Category Archives: Anti-Inflammatory

Fasting Mimicking Diet

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A fasting-mimicking diet is a type of intermittent fasting.

A growing body of research conducted over the past decade or two have suggested that fasting – or abstaining from eating food – for certain periods of time might pay significant health dividends, such as improved weight management, lowered risk of developing type 2 diabetes and a reduced risk of cancer.

Fasting-mimicking is “a low-calorie diet designed to mimic fasting without fasting,” explains Dana Ellis Hunnes, a senior clinical dietitian at UCLA Medical Center and assistant professor at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health in Los Angeles.

The approach effectively “tricks” your body into thinking you’re fasting while you’re actually still taking in some food. The eating period lasts five days, a time span that’s been associated with the benefits of fasting.

The rules of the fasting-mimicking diet are fairly straightforward. You’ll be tricking your body into thinking you’re fasting by removing most of the calories you’d typically eat each day.

The general idea on the fasting-mimicking diet is to consume 800 calories or fewer on fasting days and to adhere to a ratio of macronutrients that are roughly 10% protein, 45% fat and 45% carbohydrates. The fasting period lasts for five days and should be undertaken once per month until your target weight has been achieved.

The diet lasts for five days, and the approach breaks down as follows:

Day 1: You consume 1,100 calories. Of those calories, 11% should come from protein, 46% from fat and 43% from carbohydrates.

Days 2 to 5: You’ll consume just 725 calories per day, with a macronutrient breakdown of 9% protein, 44% fat and 47% carbohydrates.

During each of the five days, you should consume a minimum of 70 ounces of water. This fast period should be repeated once per month for a minimum of three months to achieve optimal results, Dilley explains.

References:

  1. https://health.usnews.com/wellness/food/articles/what-is-the-fasting-mimicking-diet

Magnesium

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Magnesium helps your body function properly, especially as it pertains to your muscular system, bones, and nervous system.

Magnesium matters.

  • 7 out of 10 Americans are below the Dietary Reference Intake for Magnesium, according to a USDA Agricultural Research Report
  • Sufficient magnesium intake is important in helping to maintain the function of the heart, muscles, and nervous system, support learning and memory performance in aging adults,  absorb and utilize potassium and calcium properly
  • Magnesium is also critical for athletes’ endurance in order to help maintain electrolyte and energy levels.
  • Adults with certain health concerns or who are taking medication may need magnesium supplementation. Magnesium can be found in foods such as green and leafy vegetables, halibut, nuts, such as almonds, and sunflower seeds.

Magnesium is a mineral that’s essential for making proteins and promotes normal nerve cell communication, muscle contraction, and a normal heart rhythm.

It’s estimated that up to 70 percent to 90 percent of the population are magnesium deficient, according to some findings.

This means that the majority of people living in industrialized nations, even many who think they eat a mostly “balanced diet,” are missing out on the many benefits of magnesium. These include its ability to help manage pain, decrease digestive issues and support quality sleep.

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and assists with more than 300 bodily reactions that occur constantly. About 50% of magnesium is found in bones, and the other half is divided among cells that make up your tissues and organs.*

A mere 1% of the magnesium in your body circulates in the bloodstream, but that small fraction doesn’t accurately convey magnesium’s importance there, as the body makes maintaining blood magnesium levels a high priority.*

Magnesium is important because it assists in the movement of calcium and potassium across cell membranes, magnesium plays a mighty role in promoting normal nerve cell communication, muscle contraction, and a normal heart rhythm. Magnesium also helps to maintain the strength of cell membranes and bones. Diets that provide recommended levels of magnesium are considered beneficial for bone health.*

Magnesium is an essential mineral that’s very important for many aspects of health, since it’s involved in hundreds of bodily functions, including:

  • Blood pressure regulation
  • Protein synthesis
  • Energy production
  • Blood sugar control
  • Digestive processes like moving stools through the intestine
  • Regulation of heartbeat rhythms
  • Neurotransmitter functions, including those involved in sleep and mood stabilization
  • Balance of nitric oxide in the body
  • Growth and development in babies and children
  • Functions of nerves, muscles and tissue
  • Production of stomach acid

Source: https://www.centrum.com/learn/vitamins-minerals/magnesium/

Omega 3 and Metabolic Health

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Omega-3 are essential fatty acids and getting sufficient Omega-3 fatty acid levels are a pillar of maintaining your brain, heart and immune health.  ~ Sports Research

Omega-3 are an essential fatty acids that our bodies cannot produce and have been linked to many health benefits and is necessary for many metabolic processes. In particular, omega 3 may help promote brain and heart health, reduce inflammation, and protect against several chronic conditions.

There are three main types of omega 3 fatty acids:

  • lpha-linolenic acid (ALA),
  • eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and
  • docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Many studies show that eating fatty fish and other types of seafood as part of a healthy eating pattern helps keep your heart healthy and helps protect you from some heart problems, according to the National Institute of Health’s Fact Sheet for Consumers of Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

Getting more EPA and DHA from foods or dietary supplements lowers triglyceride levels, and may promote brain health.

Decades ago, researchers observed that fish-eating communities had very low rates of metabolic diseases. This was later linked to omega-3 consumption.

Since then, omega-3 fatty acids have been tied to numerous benefits for heart health.

These benefits include:

  • Triglycerides: Omega-3s can significantly reduce levels of triglycerides.
  • HDL cholesterol: Some older studies suggest that omega-3s could raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
  • Blood clots: Omega-3s can keep blood platelets from clumping together. This helps prevent the formation of harmful blood clots, according to some older research.
  • Inflammation: Omega-3s reduce the production of some substances released during your body’s inflammatory response.

Our metabolism is defined by a complex series of chemical reactions that occur throughout our whole body, in all our tissues, all the time, to keep us up and running. Our metabolism breaks down nutrients into smaller, bite-size molecules that our cells can use for all kinds of good things, including generating energy and allowing cells to communicate with each other.

Metabolism also includes building larger molecules that our bodies can use to form tissues and perform more complex functions that make our bodies smarter, faster, and healthier.

Thus, your metabolism is a fully functioning factory that takes nutrients in and turns them into, well…you. Your metabolism takes place on a cellular level. Your cells make up tissues, that make up organs, that make up entire bodily systems. When something goes wrong with your metabolism, there’s a domino effect that can add up to some pretty significant issues.

When we’re younger, our metabolism runs like a well-oiled machine. Unfortunately, as we age, our metabolism slows, resulting in an increasingly poorly functioning factory that produces an increasingly less-healthy you

Metabolic syndrome is a term for a group of conditions that place you at a higher risk of developing heart disease and stroke. These include:

  • Excess weight, which can lead to obesity(especially around the midsection)
  • Insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes and fatty liver disease
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol

These conditions can also cause chronic, low-level inflammation, which researchers now believe is a major underlying cause of many age-related illnesses and diseases.

It goes without saying that diet and exercise are important, but in terms of your metabolic health, they’re incredibly crucial.

Proper diet and exercise are at the foundation of any healthy lifestyle.

Your heart is a muscle, and just like any muscle, you should exercise it. You should aim to dedicate at least 30 minutes a day to movement and exercise.

And, a proper diet includes prioritizing your veggies, eating your whole grains, and choosing lean meats and poultry. Try to reduce your intake of salt, sugar, refined carbs and “unhealthy fats” such as those found in butter, fried food, processed snack foods, and red meat.

References:

  1. https://sportsresearch.com/blogs/wellness/daily-habits-for-a-healthy-heart
  2. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-Consumer/#h1
  3. https://fatty15.com/blogs/news/promoting-your-metabolic-health-a-focus-on-pentadecanoic-acid-c15-0
  4. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/17-health-benefits-of-omega-3#TOC_TITLE_HDR_5

Sugar – Detrimental to Your Immune System Health

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The ‘worst food ingredient for your immune system’— sugar. Most Americans consume between 19 and 25 teaspoons of added sugars daily.

Metabolic disorders, like obesity and diabetes, have surged in the U.S. over the past several decades. Experts believe that sugar consumption is the major cause of obesity and chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes.

According to many immunologist, having diabetes means your body is in a chronic low-grade inflammatory state, which stresses the body’s innate immune system and makes it slower to jump on pathogens, like COVID19, when they enter the body. Chronic inflammation is an unhealthy and abnormal immune reaction in the body and added sugars are a key diet component known to exacerbate this type of inflammation.

When it comes to your immune system, it important that you understand that what you eat does matter a lot. And no ingredient is more detrimental to your immune system and physical health than added sugar.

From marinara sauce to peanut butter, added sugar can be found in even the most unexpected products. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), added sugars include sugars that are added during the processing of foods (such as sucrose or dextrose), foods packaged as sweeteners (such as table sugar), sugars from syrups and honey, and sugars from concentrated fruit or vegetable juices. They do not include naturally occurring sugars that are found in milk, fruits, and vegetables. The Daily Value for added sugars is 50 grams per day based on a 2,000 calorie daily diet. For most Americans, the main sources of added sugars are sugar-sweetened beverages, baked goods, desserts, and sweets.

The American Heart Association (AHA) states individuals should limit their sugar intake to six to nine teaspoons each day, which is roughly the same amount of sugar in a single can of sugary soda: eight teaspoons.

Sugar is not just bad for your teeth. Too much sugar can contribute to chronic diseases, can affect the pH levels within the body, and can impact heart health and brain health. Basically, sugar can affect the health of both your mind and body.

In the US, added sugars account for up to 17% of the total calorie intake of adults and up to 14% for children, according to AHA. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that you limit your added sugars consumption to 10% of total calories, making the current average consumption by Americans significantly higher than recommended.

Eliminating excess added sugar from your diet can not only help end this cycle of increasing metabolic disorders, but it can reverse it completely. Dialing back your sugar consumption is one of the most effective ways to improve your immune system and your overall health.

Preventative care, especially when it comes to an insidious disease like diabetes, it is recommended that the first step you take in your nutrition journey is to ask your health care provider to perform a fasting hemogoblin A1c test, even if your fasting blood glucose is normal.

Hemogoblin A1c tests measure average blood sugar over the previous three months, so even if your blood sugar is normal the day you see your doctor, the test can catch underlying issues.

According to Dr. Heather Moday, a board-certified allergist, immunologist and functional medicine physician, once you have an idea of where you stand on the blood sugar spectrum, you can take the steps below for better health:

  1. Cut back on added sugars. – This means eliminating candy, soda, cake and those seasonal flavored lattes from your diet. These foods and drinks don’t provide any nutritional value, and they contain massive amounts of sugar.
  2. Read the labels. – It is essential to check the amount of added sugar in every item in your pantry. The average American takes in about 17 teaspoons (71 grams) of added sugar a day, but the American Heart Association recommends no more than six teaspoons (25 grams) of added sugar a day for women, and nine teaspoons (36 grams) for men.
  3. Eat more fiber. – If sugar is bad, then fiber is the good. Fiber not only keeps your digestion regular, it also helps slow the absorption of sugar into your bloodstream, which protects you from sugar spikes. Lack of fiber is another reason why sodas, fruit juices and sugared coffee drinks are so detrimental to your health. They contain a ton of sugar and none of the blood-sugar-protecting fiber that fresh whole plant-based foods have. The best high-fiber foods are black beans and lentils, steel-cut oats, avocados, buckwheat, pears, raspberries, barley and flaxseeds.
  4. Chose nutrients over calories. – Instead of worrying about cutting calories, focus on adding more nutrient-dense foods to your diet, with lots of proteins and healthy fats. You don’t need to go low-carb, just choose the “right” carbs. In fact, eating carbs in the form of vegetables, beans, whole fruits, and nuts and seeds — all mineral- and vitamin-rich foods — is a great way to keep those hunger pangs at bay.

Sugar does occur naturally in all foods that contain carbohydrates, such as fruits and vegetables, grains, and dairy. Consuming whole foods that contain natural sugar is okay, according to Harvard Medical School. Plant foods also have high amounts of fiber, essential minerals, and antioxidants, and dairy foods contain protein and calcium. Since your body digests these foods slowly, the sugar in them offers a steady supply of energy to your cells.

However, problems do occur when you consume too much added sugar — the sugar that food manufacturers add to products to increase flavor or extend shelf life. “Excess sugar’s impact on obesity and diabetes is well documented, but one area that may surprise many men is how their taste for sugar can have a serious impact on their heart health,” says Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Bottomline is that too much added sugar can be one of the greatest threats to cardiovascular disease and metabolic health. And, your consumption of added sugar must be drastically reduced or eliminated from your diet to improve both your cardiovascular and metabolic health.

The goal isn’t to completely eliminate dessert or sweets from your life, but to bring your added sugar intake into a healthier range.

References:

  1. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/15/this-is-the-worst-ingredient-for-your-immune-system-says-immunologist-and-health-expert.html
  2. https://www.fda.gov/food/new-nutrition-facts-label/added-sugars-new-nutrition-facts-label
  3. https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7869775/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-cut-out-sugar/
  4. https://www.sugar.org/diet/diet-sugar-in-moderation/
  5. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/15/this-is-the-worst-ingredient-for-your-immune-system-says-immunologist-and-health-expert.html
  6. https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar
  7. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diagnostic-tests/a1c-test

Intermittent Fasting

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Research shows that intermittent fasting is a way to manage your weight and prevent several forms of chronic diseases.

Scientific studies are showing that intermittent fasting may help reverse chronic unhealthy trends of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses.

Intermittent fasting is all about when you eat.

With intermittent fasting, you only eat during a specific time. Fasting for a certain number of hours each day or eating just one meal a couple days a week, can help your body burn fat. And scientific evidence points to some health benefits, as well.

Intermittent fasting is based on choosing regular time periods to eat and fast. For instance, you eat only during an eight-hour period each day and fast for the remaining sixteen hours. Or you might choose to eat only one meal a day two days a week.

After hours without food, the body exhausts its sugar stores and starts burning fat. This is referred to as metabolic switching.

Intermittent fasting works by prolonging the period when your body has burned through the glycemic calories consumed from your last meal and begins burning fat. Glycemic is basically the presence of glucose (or sugar) in your blood.

Intermittent Fasting Benefits

Research shows that the intermittent fasting periods do more than burn fat, explains Mark Mattson, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins neuroscientist, who has studied intermittent fasting for 25 years. “When changes occur with this metabolic switch, it affects the body and brain.”

One of Mattson’s studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed data about a range of health benefits associated with the practice. These include a longer life, a leaner body and a sharper mind.

“Many things happen during intermittent fasting that can protect organs against chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, age-related neurodegenerative disorders, even inflammatory bowel disease and many cancers,” he says.

Here are some intermittent fasting benefits research has revealed so far:

  • Thinking and memory. Studies discovered that intermittent fasting boosts working memory in animals and verbal memory in adult humans.
  • Heart health. Intermittent fasting improved blood pressure and resting heart rates as well as other heart-related measurements.
  • Physical performance. Young men who fasted for 16 hours showed fat loss while maintaining muscle mass. Mice who were fed on alternate days showed better endurance in running.
  • Diabetes and obesity. In animal studies, intermittent fasting prevented obesity. And in six brief studies, obese adult humans lost weight through intermittent fasting.
  • Tissue health. In animals, intermittent fasting reduced tissue damage in surgery and improved results.

Autophagy and Anti-Aging

After 16 to 18 hours of fasting, you should be in full ketosis. Your liver begins converting your fat stores into ketone bodies — bundles of fuel that power your muscles, heart, and brain. 

If you can do intermittent fasting for 16-18 hours a day, you’ll burn through body fat and fill up quickly when you break your fast, which makes it easy to stay in a calorie deficit and lose weight. 

After a full-day fast, your body goes into repair mode. It begins recycling old or damaged cells and reducing inflammation. If you’re looking for anti-aging or anti-inflammatory benefits, a 24-hour or greater timeframe fast is required. . 

When your body is under mild stress (such as exercise or an extended fast), your cells respond by becoming more efficient. 

Intermittent fasting is a valuable and an effective tool to improve your mental and physical health.

References:

  1. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/intermittent-fasting-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work
  2. https://perfectketo.com/the-5-stages-of-fasting/

Omega-3 EPA and DHA

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When it comes to the benefits of omega-3 fish oil supplementation, the evidence shows that it benefits both the mind and heart.  Our brains, hearts, and bodies appear to suffer when we don’t get enough of these healthy and essential fats. In terms of brain and heart health, omega-3s derived from wild cold water fish oil (or grass-fed animal fat and other kinds of seafood) are best because they are loaded with two particular brain- and heart-healthy essential fatty acids (EFAs) called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

A Harvard School of Public Health study published in 2011 found that omega-3 deficiency is likely the sixth biggest killer of Americans, and maybe the underlying factor of roughly 96,000 premature deaths each year!

What Are the Benefits of Omega-3 Supplements?

Scientific Benefits of Omega-3 Supplements | BrainMD

First, the most important fact to remember about omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) is that they are indeed essential, meaning that your body needs to get them from your diet. Unfortunately, with today’s modern diet, which is light on omega-3-rich foods (fish, grass-fed meats, nuts, seed and dark leafy greens) and heavy on foods with saturated fats and oils (corn, safflower, soybean, sunflower, cottonseed, peanut, etc.) that are rich in omega-6 EFAs.

The American Heart Association recommend at least two oily fish meals per week (which equates to roughly 500 mg per day of EPA and DHA), a full gram per day for those with coronary heart disease—and even more for those with high triglyceride levels—there’s good reason.

  • Inflammation. Studies indicate that DHA and EPA from fish oil may support healthy inflammation levels in the body.10 Keeping inflammation levels in check supports a healthy vascular system.
  • Blood pressure and heart function. Research has also correlated adequate amounts of DHA and EPA with healthy blood pressure levels.11 And while still inconclusive, some studies have shown that EPA and DHA may play a role in healthy heart rhythm.12
  • Triglycerides. Having a high level of triglycerides, a type of fat (lipid) in your blood, can increase your risk of heart disease. A very strong body of research suggests that DHA and EPA help to maintain healthy triglyceride levels.13

Our brains, hearts, and bodies appear to suffer when we don’t get enough of these healthy fats. In terms of brain and heart health, omega-3s derived from wild cold water fish oil are best because they are loaded with two particular brain- and heart-healthy EFAs called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Literally, thousands of scientific studies have been conducted using fish oil rich in these two nutritional dynamos—with mostly promising results.

Major Benefits of EPA and DHA For Your Health

It has been scientifically demonstrated that your brain needs the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA to function optimally. Though not technically classed as essential, these fatty acids are called essential for a reason – our bodies need them, and the only sure way to get enough of them is through foods or supplements. Let’s take a closer look at these two most important omega-3 fatty acids.

Power Team: EPA + DHA

Humans need a variety of fatty acids for our cell membranes to function. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are essential to the functioning of all our 30 trillion cells. They’re building blocks for the membrane systems that do most of the heavy lifting for our cells.

We require premade EPA+DHA from our diet. Unfortunately, the modern diet has an unhealthy balance of fatty acids: we get an abundance of saturated and omega-6 fatty acids and not nearly enough omega-3s. Also, most of the omega-3s we do get must be converted to EPA+DHA, which the body doesn’t do effectively.

Numerous surveys indicate populations that don’t consume a lot of seafood (such as the U.S.) don’t get sufficient supplies of EPA and DHA from their diet. Since plant foods don’t supply them, the main dietary sources of EPA and DHA are cold-water fish and dietary supplements. Considering the widespread contamination of seafood by mercury and other toxins, many experts advise that taking a purified fish oil supplement could be a smart choice.

 1. Promotes Healthy Mood

EPA+DHA have been tested on adults with mood problems in at least 26 randomized, controlled clinical trials. Two meta-analyses, which analyze the data pooled from all the best trials, have concluded that these omega-3s are consistently beneficial for mood. These meta-analyses also suggest that fish oils with more EPA than DHA work better, with the best ratio being around 1.5 to 1 EPA to DHA.

Children and adolescents with mood difficulties commonly have problems with academic performance, self-esteem, and socialization. In two clinical trials with youth aged 7-14 years, EPA+DHA 1600 mg per day (1400 mg EPA, 200 mg DHA) for 12 weeks substantially improved coping with distraction and stress – as well as mood, irritability, and self-esteem – compared with placebo.

 2. Improves Attention and Behavior

Children and adolescents with attention and learning challenges often have low Omega-3 Index values (about 3% on average, compared to a healthy 8% or higher). A 2018 meta-analysis concluded that supplementation with EPA+DHA improved parental reports of attention and behavior, as well as mental focus on cognitive tests. The researchers concluded that to ensure the most benefit, the EPA dose should be at least 500 mg per day.

 3. Essential for the Heart and Circulation

Numerous health agencies worldwide recommend EPA and DHA for promoting and enhancing cardiovascular health. Meta-analyses clearly indicate that supplementation with EPA+DHA at doses of 2-3 grams per day can promote healthy triglyceride status and blood pressure regulation. Additionally, EPA+DHA supplementation can improve blood vessel function, especially their capacities for relaxation and flexibility.

 4. Supports Healthy Immunity

The immune system is the body’s security force. When the body is invaded, it goes on full alert to eliminate the threat. EPA and DHA support healthy immune responsiveness.

Having sufficient EPA+DHA in our tissues gives the immune system the option to generate messengers from them to coordinate its activities. Healthy immunity is held in delicate balance by EPA and DHA. No other omega-3s can substitute for EPA and DHA in this crucial role.

 5. Vital for Healthy Pregnancy

Babies of mothers who have good EPA+DHA status through pregnancy have a lower risk for problems with mood, cognition, and behavior in their early childhood. DHA, the predominant omega-3 in our cell membranes, is essential to the developing fetal heart, brain, and retina.

A meta-analysis of 38 trials concluded that children born to mothers with higher prenatal EPA+DHA intakes show better motor, vision, and cognitive development in their first two years of life. Yet U.S. women on average have considerably lower EPA+DHA intakes than recommended by the U.S. National Institute of Medicine.

 6. Total Brain and Body Protection

EPA and DHA have been shown to protect brain circulatory function and preserve memory and other cognitive capacities. EPA and DHA support many other organs and body systems including the liver (by preventing triglyceride buildup), the joints (promoting joint comfort), eyes (essential for retinal function), and muscles (protecting against mobility loss as we age).

With strong evidence supporting the positive effects of omega-3s EPA and DHA on the brain, heart, and entire body, taking a fish oil supplement daily can have a significant impact on individual wellness. BrainMD is proud to recommend its new, high EPA and DHA premium liquid fish oil…

https://twitter.com/yourwellbeing88/status/1278666518390165505?s=20

References:

  1. https://brainmd.com/blog/omega-3s-the-supplement-your-mind-and-heart-can-get-behind/
  2. https://brainmd.com/blog/benefits-of-epa-and-dha-fish-oil-supplements/

Inflammation and COVID-19

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Stay Away From Anything That Causes Inflammation

Medical experts are conveying to avoid anything that causes inflammation during this coronavirus pandemic, but some people have genes that make them more likely to experience inflammation. In 2019, scientists discovered that the coronavirus can trigger an inflammatory response making the symptoms and illness more severe .

From mild stress to chronic health conditions, inflammation can and will wreak havoc on your body and mind. Inflammation is caused by a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors, which can make it very difficult to address – especially while you’re suffering from exhaustion, depression, or any other inflammation-related symptoms.

Excessive immune response related to COVID-19

Every week, more is being learned about the incredible physiological harm that the coronavirus is capable of doing to those infected. This is the critical reason why this virus should not be taken likely.

Some clinicians suspect the driving force in many gravely ill patients’ downhill trajectories is a disastrous overreaction of the immune system known as a “cytokine storm.” Cytokine storm is a hyperinflammatory condition caused by an overactive immune system.  According to scientific research, a cytokine storm is a driving force in COVID-19 mortality rates.

Cytokines are chemical signaling molecules that guide a healthy immune response; but in a cytokine storm, levels of certain cytokines soar far beyond what’s needed, and immune cells start to attack healthy tissues. Blood vessels leak, blood pressure drops, clots form, and catastrophic organ failure can ensue. This can cause inflammation and damage to the lungs and other organs.

Corticosteroids

Doctors have used a class of medicines called corticosteroids – including one called dexamethasone – to help tame that response. These are medications that have been around for a long time and are readily available. “We know this medication very well. It’s been used for many other purposes, and we know the side effects profile and what it can do to the body,” pulmonary and critical care physician Lokesh Venkateshaiah, MD says.

Its use to treat COVID-19 stems from the success of the RECOVERY trial carried out by researchers in the United Kingdom. In the study, hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who received dexamethasone for up to 10 days were less likely to die than those who didn’t. That benefit was only seen in very sick patients – those who had oxygen levels less than 93% or needed supplemental oxygen.

But, doctors have to be careful with dosing. “Overdoing it with this drug ­can potentially put patients at risk for new infections, especially bacterial infections, or even fungal infections,” Dr. Venkateshaiah cautions.

COVID-19 fatigue

Yet after more than ten months, Americans are getting COVID-19 fatigue. Much of the current rise in COVID-19 infections is due to community spread. Taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is critical, particularly as the virus continues to evolve.

Your best defense to avoid serious illness and against the physiological harm caused by COVID-19 is to remain vigilant. You must continue to wear a mask, maintain physical distancing and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily. Additionally, you must get vaccinated for the seasonal influenza, wash your hands regularly and stay away from others if you are feeling ill.

COVID-19 vs Seasonal Influenza

COVID-19 symptoms generally appear two to 14 days after exposure. And, with COVID-19, you may experience loss of taste or smell. COVID-19 is more contagious and spread more quickly than the seasonal flu. Severe illnesses, such as lung injury, may be more frequent with COVID-19 than with the flu. The death rate also appears to be higher with COVID-19 than the flu.

Wearing masks

Wearing a cloth mask has been shown to help decrease the spread of COVID-19. Research shows that a significant number of people who have COVID-19 do not have any symptoms and are considered asymptomatic. These people may not know they are transmitting the virus to others when they talk, sneeze or cough, or raise their voice, such as with singing or shouting.

You should wear a cloth mask to reduce the chance of transmitting respiratory droplets to others around you. You wear a mask to protect others, and they wear a mask to protect you.

References:

  1. https://get.selfdecode.com/gene-reports/nm/inflammation/?utm_source=selfhacked&utm_medium=partnerad&utm_campaign=inflammation_report
  2. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-7-top-covid-19-myths/
  3. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-any-drugs-really-work-as-coronavirus-treatments/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Immune Response from COVID-19 Vaccine

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Experiencing an immune response was better than getting Covid-19

Many participants in Moderna and Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine trials experienced an “immune response” such as high fever, body aches, bad headaches, daylong exhaustion and other symptoms after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine shots.

While the symptoms were uncomfortable for many, the participants said the symptoms went away after a day, sometimes sooner, and that “it was better than getting Covid-19”.

“We really need to make patients aware that this [COVID-19 vaccine] is not going to be a walk in the park,” Dr. Sandra Fryhofer of the American Medical Association said. “They are going to know they had a vaccine. They are probably not going to feel wonderful. But they’ve got to come back for that second dose.”

Both companies, Moderna and Pfizer, acknowledged that their vaccines could induce “immune response” — side effects — that are similar to symptoms associated with mild COVID-19, such as muscle pain, chills and headache.

It’s normal to feel under the weather or even somewhat ill—fatigued, achey, or experience a fever—after getting a vaccine shot. This results from the robust immune response as the body’s creating antibodies, actual protection against the coronavirus. It will happen to a percentage of the people who get the vaccine shot.

In other words, feeling like you’re in the early stages of getting the coronavirus is actually a sign that you’ll be protected from the actual virus. What you’re feeling is the body’s defense system gearing up.

Most vaccine shots mimic a virus entering your body. Immune cells, though, fire off chemical alarms as soon as they notice any virus-like particle. They activate the innate immune system, a generalized response that tries to make the body unlivable for any potential pathogen. That inflammatory reaction can cause a bit of a fever or a tiny swollen lump near the injection site.

The fatigue you might feel comes from gearing up a more specialized immune defense. Tiny, specialized cells called B-cells create antibodies, which are cellular fighter pilots specific to each virus. Making these antibodies requires expending a little extra energy at first, but the payoff is future protection: Once they’re present in your plasma, the antibodies can patrol for future viruses.

Additionally, it takes about two weeks for your body to whip its antibodies into shape; you could pick up a coronavirus in the window between getting your jab and when protection kicks in. That’s why it’s important to make sure you only get a coronavirus vaccine shot, or any vaccine, when you’re feeling healthy.

Not everyone will notice these symptoms after getting the vaccine shot. But if you do seem a bit off, the feeling shouldn’t stick around for more than a day or two, and shouldn’t require a visit to your healthcare provider.

References:

  1. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/23/covid-vaccine-cdc-should-warn-people-the-side-effects-from-shots-wont-be-walk-in-the-park-.html
  2. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/feeling-sick-getting-flu-shot-150519027.html

Turmeric Natural Anti-Inflammatory Properties

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Turmeric is derived from a plant similar to ginger and has long been used for medicinal purposes. “Turmeric has natural anti-inflammatory compounds called curcuminoids, and these curcuminoids have been associated with a positive effect on various diseases,” says Anya Guy, a Mayo Clinic dietitian. Those diseases include Type 2 diabetes, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease and cancer.

Curcumin anti-inflammatory properties make it a potential treatment for a number of health conditions, including reduced pain and increased ease of movement in people with osteoarthritis. One study found that taking turmeric extract three times daily was comparable to taking a 1,200-milligram dose of ibuprofen daily for arthritis pain. However, more research is necessary to confirm these effects.

In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, research suggests that curcumin has many other health benefits. Among them are antioxidant, metabolic-regulating, antimicrobial, immune-modulating, mood-enhancing, neuroprotective and anti-cancer effects.

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, effectively kills certain cancer cells. While research continues on the role turmeric plays in treating cancer, preclinical studies demonstrate curcumin stops the growth of breast cancer cells in the laboratory, but it’s not known if this happens in humans since the body quickly breaks down curcumin, making it difficult to study. High-quality human studies are needed to confirm these findings, and guide effective and safe use of turmeric as a supplement.

Other research suggests that curcumin may reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In addition, it may lessen some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, such as joint swelling and morning stiffness. Other areas of investigation include curcumin’s effect on Crohn’s disease, certain cancers, depression, diabetes, joint pain and irritable bowel syndrome.

When taken by mouth or applied to the skin, turmeric — and the curcumin it contains — appears to be generally safe when limited to less than 8 grams a day. That said, different amounts often are recommended depending on the health condition being addressed, and higher doses have been used for limited periods of time. High doses or long-term use may cause gastrointestinal upset for some people.

When ingested as a superfood or when turmeric is used as a spice in culinary cuisine, the curcumin it contains appears to be generally safe among cancer patients. But dietary food sources are different than turmeric supplements or when it is taken as a pill. There is little research to ensure turmeric supplements are safe when used in combination with cancer treatments, including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

The use of supplements, like turmeric, among cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment can be a concern. Supplements are not standardized like prescription medications, meaning the dose is not regulated and purity cannot be guaranteed. What you get may differ from bottle to bottle and among brands, and there can be variables depending on what specific part of the plant is used. Many supplements that have powerful anti-inflammatory effects, like turmeric, have blood-thinning properties, which can increase the risk of bleeding and cause complications around the time of surgery.

References:

  1. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-are-there-health-benefits-of-turmeric/?mc_id=us&utm_source=newsnetwork&utm_medium=l&utm_content=content&utm_campaign=mayoclinic&geo=national&placementsite=enterprise&cauid=100721
  2. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-turmeric-use-in-breast-cancer-treatment/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=sm&utm_content=post&utm_campaign=mayoclinic&geo=national&placementsite=enterprise&mc_id=us&cauid=100502&linkId=104085792&fbclid=IwAR3un2cLDzM1wrCo8KHjh7MBqDg28JMQa5xLWtBuUZdRL3cHSWyKLlTGwOo
  3. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-turmerics-anti-inflammatory-properties-may-relieve-arthritis-pain/?mc_id=us&utm_source=newsnetwork&utm_medium=l&utm_content=content&utm_campaign=mayoclinic&geo=national&placementsite=enterprise&cauid=100721