Protein in Soy Better than Milk for Improving Cholesterol Health

A new study has revealed that supplements of soy protein are much better than milk protein in terms of improving blood levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and thus the overall lipid profile in healthy individuals.

The study, which has been published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, investigated the effect of soy and milk protein supplementation on lipids compared with carbohydrate among healthy adults.

Numerous research studies have demonstrated that soy protein reduces LDL ('the bad') cholesterol and increases HDL ('the good') cholesterol, supporting the soy protein heart health and cholesterol-lowering claim that is approved in 12 countries around the globe.

"Research has shown that lowering blood lipids reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke." "The results of this study reveal that soy protein supplementation intake can help lower blood lipids, thus helping to reduce the risk of CHD in healthy individuals."

In this study, total cholesterol reduction as well as the total/HDL cholesterol ratio reduction was statistically significant with soy protein supplementation compared with carbohydrate.

Compared with milk protein, soy protein supplementation significantly increased HDL and significantly reduced total/HDL cholesterol ratio as well as lowered LDL cholesterol.

Research Suggests, Premature Babies at Risk of Ill Health in Later Life

Young adults who were born prematurely show multiple biological signs of risks to future health, research from Imperial College London has found. The scientists, reporting their findings October 19 in the journal Pediatric Research, say that the research indicates that urgent work is now needed to monitor preterm babies into adulthood to improve the detection of early signs of disease.

The study of 48 volunteers aged 18-27 found that those who were born at 33 weeks of gestation or less had higher blood pressure, more fat tissue despite having a normal Body Mass Index, and more fat in their muscle and liver. These traits are linked to heart and circulatory disease and type 2 diabetes. The differences in fat around the abdomen were most marked in men.

The number of preterm babies born each year is rising, and in developed countries, around 2 per cent of babies are born before 33 weeks of gestation.

"This was only a small study but the differences we found were quite striking," said Professor Neena Modi, the lead investigator in the study from the Department of Medicine at Imperial College London. "The results suggest that we need to monitor the health of premature babies beyond infancy and childhood. Preterm men and women might be at greater risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy revealed differences in the chemical makeup of their urine, with preterm subjects producing more metabolites associated with inflammation, which is in keeping with the higher blood pressure and greater fat found in the preterm subjects.

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Diabetes Affects Kidney

Tips to control Diabetes and retain a healthy kidney:

Did you know...Diabetes affects the kidney? Diabetic nephropathy is one of the significant specific complications of diabetes. Around 30 to 50 percent of people with kidney failure are diabetics.

Uncontrolled high blood sugar for long span of time produces functional and later structural changes in the kidneys. But what is unfortunate is that the changes occurring in kidneys are not clinically observable to the treating doctor. The symptom the patient show until the kidney function is harshly affected and the disease has reached an irreversible phase.

Urine test is one trendy way of detecting early kidney damage in diabetes through Presence of albumin leak in urine is called albuminuria of proteinuria.

Albumunuria is a symptom of early diabetic kidney disease. In routine urine examination will identify albuminuria. However, as there are no symptoms this is not given any clinical importance and often goes unnoticed without medical care. Aggressive treatment should start at this time and the progression of the kidney damage could be delayed or arrested.

Routine exam of urine will detect albumunura. However, there is another sensitive test for detection of micro abluminuria. This test detects minute amounts of albumin leaked into the urine (microabluminuria).

Microabluminuria is a sign of early abnormalities of the blood vessels and a forerunner of atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries). Therefore occurrence of albuminuria is sign to aggressive treatment of cardiovascular risk factors.

Research has shown that sufficient and long-term control of blood sugar, blood pressure and dietary changes can help in preventing kidney disease. However, the efforts should start early in the life of people with diabetes. New drugs used for treatment of hypertension are called angiotension-converting enzyme inhibitors. These agents were originally invented and used for treatment of hypertension. But they were found to be helpful in preventing kidney disease in persons with diabetes, particularly in patients who have albuminuria.

Other than the specific diabetes kidney disease, people with diabetes are also more prone to urinary tract infections. Chronic recurrent urinary tract infection is more common due to high blood sugar levels. Diabetes can also affect the nerves supplying the urinary bladder and produce abnormal bladder function. This can lead to deficient urinary evacuation and urinary retention. Therefore avoidance of infections also helps in preventing kidney damage in diabetes.

So, remember, if you are a diabetic then have urine test for albumin periodically to detect kidney disease.

Bird Flu Infection

Avian influenza (Bird flu)

Bird flu is an infection caused by bird influenza (flu) virus. It is occur naturally in birds. Wild birds carry the viruses in their intestines, but generally do not get sick from them. However, bird flu is very infectious among birds and can make some domestic birds, including hens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.

Humans and Bird flu:

There are several subtypes of type A influenza viruses. These subtypes vary because of certain proteins on the surface of the influenza A virus hemagglutinin(HA) and neuraminidase (NA) proteins. There are 16 different HA subtypes and 9 different NA subtypes of flu A viruses. Various different combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible. Each combination is a different subtype. All known subtypes of flu A viruses could found in birds. When we talk about human flu viruses we are referring to those subtypes that occur widely in humans. There are only three known A subtypes of human flu viruses (H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2); it is likely that some genetic parts of current human influenza A viruses came from birds originally.

Human Symptoms:

Bird flu symptoms in humans have ranged from typical flu-like symptoms (fever, sore throat, cough and muscle aches) to eye infections, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress), pneumonia and other severe and life-threatening complications. The symptoms of bird flu may depend on which virus caused the infection

Spread of Bird Flu:

Infected Birds shed flu virus in their nasal secretions, saliva, feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they contact with contaminated excretions or surfaces that are contaminated with excretions. It is believed that most cases of bird flu infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces. The spread of avian influenza viruses from one ill person to another has been reported very rarely, and transmission has not been experienced to continue beyond one person.

Deal with Bird flu:

Studies suggest that the prescription medicines approved for human flu viruses should work in preventing bird flu infection in humans.

Flu viruses can become resistant to these drugs, so these medications may not always work. Further studies are needed to prove the effectiveness of these medicines. People should avoid contact with infected birds and should be careful when handle cooking poultry.

Kinesiologists Design Tiny Treadmill to Help Balance Baby Steps in Down Syndrome Infants

Kinesiologsts developed a tiny treadmill to help infants with Down syndrome learn to balance themselves earlier. Typically, these children learn how to walk at 24 to 28 months, later than the 12 months for those without Down syndrome. The treadmill exercise, used about 8 minutes a day, helps to reinforce the underlying pattern of coordination in the legs. This repetition helps build core muscles and support the drive to stand up. After the babies take eight to 10 steps without help, they are outfitted with light reflecting markers. The information from these markers is recorded on cameras, revealing gait, speed and width of their steps. Researchers show walking is occurring six months sooner with the treadmill.

Down syndrome affects one in every 800 babies. It's a genetic condition that causes delays in intellectual and physical development. Researchers have now developed a treadmill for Down syndrome babies to help them walk earlier than ever before.

The treadmill training helps babies with Down learn to balance earlier. Signe Newcomb helps her daughter Lauren use the treadmill at home for eight minutes every day. "She likes to stand more and is building her core muscle strength," Newcomb said.

“Basically, we know how long their step is, how wide they walk and how fast they walk," Rosa Angulobarroso, a research scientist at the University of Michigan, said.

Studies show the babies learn to walk six months earlier than kids without treadmill training, and the quality of their walking is much better. It doesn't sound like much, but it can mean a world of difference.