The birth of my twins 13 years ago coincided with the death of any semblance of privacy or personal space.
First there was the nursing, which kept at least one of them dangling off my body for a good part of the day and night. Then, once they could crawl, I was afraid to shut the bathroom door for fear they’d bring a bookshelf down on their heads or eat the refrigerator magnets and get stuck to one another at the belly.
I was a nervous mom to begin with, and the two of them, constantly in motion and mischief, made me anxious and hypervigilant. Unfortunately, my open-door policy with my toddlers led to their begging to sit on my lap, even when I was peeing. I said no, but I was too ridden with working-mom guilt (bad mommy, earning money to support your children!) to boot them out and too exhausted to deal with the ensuing meltdowns if I tried.
I’d gotten myself into a bad pattern in which the kids felt entitled to a 24-hour all-access mommy pass, and I didn’t know how to break it. I loved them to the moon, but I was depleted and not exactly a joy to be around.
That’s when I started saying, “Mommy has to go to the gym.” I’m not sure whether my husband was more thrilled to afford me the free time or to just be rid of me, but it didn’t really matter. For a full hour, I’d go downstairs to our building’s gym and do… whatever. At first, I’d simply sit in the ladies’ room and marvel at what it was like to not have to rush out—pants open, hands unwashed—to avert some impending crisis. I’d noodle around on the bike and then head back upstairs, a saner person for it. Sometimes I made uninterrupted phone calls, and occasionally I cried from the stress of it all.
But eventually I began to use my time efficiently, doing 40 minutes of cardio and either stretching or using the weight machines. I’d been a regular before I had my kids, so getting back in shape wasn’t hard. And just going to a place where I could have myself all to myself was amazing.
Now my children are teenagers, and when I text them through the closed door of their bedroom to say, “Mommy’s going to the gym,” I’m lucky if I get a thumbs-up emoji in reply. But it’s all good, and the gym is still my sanctuary, a place I will forever associate with blissful escape.
The UTEP softball team will take a break from league action to host rival NM State in the FirstLight FCU Battle of I-10 on March 28 in a two-game set starting at 5 p.m. at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex.
Fans who wear to orange to the contests will get in free.
The Miners (8-21) and Aggies (10-16) will face each other for the 40th time after the game one first pitch. UTEP defeated NM State, 5-3, in Las Cruces on March 1. It was the first win up the road for the Miners against the Aggies since Feb. 15, 2010.
Head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk has beaten NM State twice during her four seasons at the helm, which includes a victory in 2014.
“It’s nice to know it’s a rivalry game, knowing that the girls will be fired up to play this one. Going into this game, they will try to prove something like they always do,” said Echo-Hawk.
UTEP pounded out a season-high 15 hits in its 12-2 (5) run-rule game-one victory against Southern Miss on March 25, but only tallied a combined 10 hits the next two contests. However, the Miners have shown they can rack up knocks against the Aggies as 11 hits were recorded during the March 1 triumph.
And following the team’s loss on Sunday in which four hits were tallied, Echo-Hawk had a post-game talk with the squad to get back in the swing of things against NM State on Tuesday.
“We were just talking about thing to do offensively so we can get back on track,” Echo-Hawk said. “Hitting is a hard thing to do. It’s hard to remain consistent. It’s hard not to let one at-bat carry into the next at-bat. I know we are a better hitting team than that.”
UTEP is currently hitting .294 in 2017. Since Echo-Hawk’s arrival prior to the 2014 campaign, the Miners are hitting .296 in 188 games played.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. NM STATE
UTEP is 11-28 all-time against NM State, dating back to March 24, 2004. UTEP recently ended a seven-game losing streak to NM State after coming out on top, 5-3, on March 1 in Las Cruces. The Miners are 8-10 all-time in El Paso, while losing the last three contests at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex.
The Orange and Blue last won in the Sun City on March 4, 2014 by the score of 5-1. Overall, UTEP is 2-7 in the last nine contests since the 2014 victory. The Miners last won consecutive contests against the Aggies during a three-game stretch (UTEP def. NM State 12-7 on Feb. 19, 2009, 22-5 on Feb. 15, 2010 & 5-0 on March 23, 2010).
LAST MEETING
UTEP defeated NM State 5-3 on March 1 in Las Cruces. The Miners struck first as they jumped out to a 5-0 advantage. Hope Moreno put her squad on top 1-0 in the fourth when she was hit by a pitch in a pinch-hit situation with bases loaded. The Miners then jumped out 3-0 after Kiki Pepi lined a two-run home run over center in the fifth inning.
Pepi came up big again in the sixth, this time with a two-run single lined up the middle. The Aggies kept things interesting when they scored three runs in the sixth, but Devyn Cretz and Erika Harrawood combined to keep the victory intact. Cretz earned the win, hurling 5.2 frames and fanning five batters, and Harrawood earned her first career save in 1.2 innings of work, while striking out the last batter to seal the deal.
SCOUTING NM STATE
The Aggies have racked up a 10-16 record and are coming off a 5-2, 7-3 double header loss to PAC-12’s no. 21 Arizona State last Wednesday in Tempe, Ariz. Together, the Aggies are hitting .296 to rank third among the WAC. Reigning 2016 WAC Freshman of the Year Kelsey Horton, now a sophomore, is leading the lineup, batting .391 that includes four home runs, 10 doubles, and 22 RBI.
Horton’s numbers rank fourth in batting, third in RBI, and third for doubles in the WAC. The pitching staff has tallied an ERA of 4.05, with sophomore Kayla Green leading the crew with a 3.97 ERA to rank fifth in WAC, as well as leading the team in wins (six).
Fellow pitcher Samaria Diaz leads the team with 38 strikeouts, including a season-high seven Ks against Southern Illinois on March 11. NM State ranks second in conference in pitching and fielding.
LAST WEEKEND
UTEP defeated Southern Miss, 12-2, in five frames, but fell 6-2 and 6-1 the next two contests to lose the series. The Miners (3-6) and Golden Eagles (3-6) have the same record in the Conference USA West Division following the weekend series. The Miners bats exploded for a season-high 15 hits in the game one victory and crossed the dish a season-high 12 times against the Golden Eagles. Overall, UTEP hit .309 (25-81) and actually outscored Southern Miss, 15-14, in the three-game set.
Kaitlin Ryder also recorded a career-high five RBI in game one, while Kiki Pepi and Mallorie Cross each tallied four RBI during the weekend. Courtney Clayton and Macey Brown each chipped in with a RBI. Erika Harrawood earned the game one victory, throwing 5.0 frames and striking out a trio of batters.
SEASON HIGH IN RUNS & HITS
A week after tying the season high in runs (10) and hits (13) during UTEP’s 10-7 win against Middle Tennessee, the Miners set their season high in runs (12) and hits (15) during a 12-2 (5) victory over Southern Miss. The most runs and hits tallied during the Tobin Echo-Hawk era was a 16-run outburst against Mount St. Mary’s on March 5, 2016 and a 17-hit barrage against Incarnate Word on Feb. 11, 2016.
BAT WOMEN
After hitting .226 the first nine games, the UTEP bats have picked up the pace, hitting .321 (178-554) the last 20 games. Overall, the Miners are hitting .294 during the season, ranking fifth in Conference USA and no. 79 nationally.
UTEP is one of five programs hitting .290 or better; Marshall leads the pack with a .326 batting average. UTEP ranks sixth in hits (229) and slugging (.406).
DOUBLE TAKE
UTEP recorded five more doubles during the Southern Miss series and ranks tied sixth in Conference USA with North Texas (34 doubles). LA Tech leads the way with 44, while Marshall (43), Charlotte (41), FIU (39) and UTSA (38) round out the list.
UTEP’s 1.17 doubles per game ranks fifth in C-USA and 150 nationally. Marshall leads C-USA with 1.54 doubles and Seton Hall leads the nation with 2.08 doubles per game.
DIGGING OUT TRIPLES
UTEP ranks tied fifth with Florida Atlantic with six triples in 2017. LA Tech leads the way with 10, UTSA ranks second with eight, and Charlotte and Marshall each have seven. The Miners’ .21 triples per game ranks fourth in C-USA and no. 90 nationally.
C-USA OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
UTEP ranks second with a .311 batting average in Conference USA games only. Marshall leads with a .336 batting average. The Miners rank fourth in slugging (.389), fifth in on-base (.349), second in runs scored (41) [Marshall leads with 64 runs], third in hits (76), second in RBI (41), tied second with LA Tech in doubles (11) and third in total bases (95).
GETTING HIT
UTEP was hit three more times by pitches this past weekend against Southern Miss. The Miners rank tied fourth with Southern Miss with 17 HBPs. WKU leads the league with 54 HBPs, while North Texas (24) ranks second and FIU (20) ranks third.
Hope Moreno was hit by another pitch this past weekend, giving her five in 2017, to rank tied seventh in Conference USA with FIU’s Stephanie Texeira. WKU’s Taylor Proctor leads with 15 HBPs.
TOUGH TO STRIKEOUT
UTEP has left the plate swinging or looking only 110 times in 780 at bats to rank 11th in Conference USA. Marshall leads the way with 101, while WKU has struck out the most with 211. Lindsey Sokoloski leads C-USA and ranks fourth nationally, only fanning once in 81 at bats. Sokoloski is one of 12 players nationally to only strikeout once, while Victoria Nelson of Jackson State has not struck out (79 at bats) this season.
Baylor’s Lindsey Cargill (102 at bats) and Nicholls State’s Brooke Morris (98 at bats) rank ahead of Sokoloski. Courtney Clayton has struck out two times in 100 at bats to rank fourth in C-USA and tied no. 56 nationally. Taylor Sargent (four Ks in 76 at bats) ranks fourth in C-USA and no. 109 nationally.
#TURNUP
The UTEP defense turned a trio of double plays against Southern Miss – two in game two and one in game three. The Miners have turned 14 double plays in 2017, ranking fourth in Conference USA. FIU ranks first with 17, while WKU and UAB have each turned 16 double plays. Last season, UTEP turned a program-high 30 double plays.
DEFENSIVE RANKINGS
UTEP’s .957 fielding percentage ranks in the middle of the pack in Conference USA, while its 35 errors have been kept to a minimal, ranking eighth in least errors committed in C-USA.
Team SISD and Canutillo ISD leaders, board members, and employees will face off for a friendly flag football match as part of the Socorro Independent School District’s annual Warm the Soul collection drive to benefit students.
SISD’s Warm the Soul event serves to collect shoes for underprivileged children. This year, the district also is collecting blankets, scarves, socks, mittens and beanies.
All participants in the game are donating new shoes, blankets and winter accessories to benefit SISD children. The public is invited to cheer on the teams during the flag football game, and admission is free with a donation of shoes, or three winter accessories.
The Warm the Soul project has collected more than 150 pairs of shoes in past years.
What: Warm the Soul shoe drive and charity football game
Who: SISD and Canutillo ISD leaders, SISD students
Where: SISD Student Activities Complex | 1300 Joe Battle Blvd.
Thyroid disorder is one of the most common disorders. It happens due to under or over functioning of the thyroid gland. According to the statistics on the American Thyroid Association�s website, around 12% of Americans are likely to suffer from some thyroid disease. Moreover, more than 60% of the people are not even aware of their thyroid disorder. There are many kinds of thyroid diseases, and some of them are Goiter, Hyperthyroidism, Thyroid Nodules, Thyroid cancer, and hypothyroidism.
These types of thyroid disorder can be annoying. It is better to treat this type of disorder. First of all, Doctors use various tests to diagnose your disorder to suggest different types of available treatment methods for your thyroid disorder. You should know about the symptoms of thyroid disorder first because you won�t go to the doctor without any reason, will you?
What are the 8 symptoms of thyroid disorder you should not ignore?
As I said before, 60% of the people are not even aware of their thyroid disorder. This shows how important this article is. Here are the 8 symptoms of thyroid disorder you cannot afford to ignore.
Unexplainable Weight Loss
The amount of hormones released by your thyroid gland has an impact on your weight. When your thyroid gland releases more hormones than usual, you are likely to lose weight. This condition is called hyperthyroidism. However, it is the symptom of hyperthyroidism only if it is unexplainable, and i.e. without any change in your regular diet or fitness routine.
Sadness or Depression
Both overactive and under-active thyroid can have an impact on your mood. Too much thyroid hormone can make you feel anxious, irritable, or restless; whereas too less thyroid hormone can make you sad or depressed. It is one of the common thyroid symptoms.
Constipation
If you are having the problem with constipation, and you are not able to kick it, then it could be because of disruption in the production of thyroid hormone. It can slow down your digestion process. This is one of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Heart Rate
Your thyroid has an impact on many organs of your body, and it includes your heart too. If the rate of your heartbeat is more or less than normal, then it is likely to be a symptom of thyroid disorder. The normal heartbeat is between 60-100 beats per minute, and it depends on various factors like weight, age, height, and other physical conditions.
Swelling In Neck
If your neck is swollen, then it is obvious that something is not right with your thyroid. You just cannot ignore this symptom. It should be taken very seriously, and you should immediately see your doctor. The inflammation in your neck could also have the presence of cancer or nodules. Because many people are not even aware of the common symptoms of thyroid.
Hair Loss
Can your hair loss be the result of thyroid disorder? Yes, it can be. The study shows that abnormal function of your thyroid can lead to hair loss. This is a common symptom, which is shared by both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Some people look for many different problems to tackle the problem of hair loss, but they don�t have a clue that it could be because of thyroid disorder.
Too Much Sleep
It is obviously very good for your health to have an adequate level of sleep. However, if you are sleeping too much, then there is a problem. If your thyroid is not functioning in a normal manner, then it can have an adverse impact on your body functions. It can slow down your body functions. You may even feel sleepy during daytime if you have a thyroid disorder.
No Interest In Sex
If your mind and body are in the right condition, then you will feel very excited even to hear the word �sex.� However, if you are losing interest in sex, then you should realize that there is something seriously wrong with your health. The study shows that thyroid disorder may cause sexual dysfunction among men, and it can also affect sexual health of women. If you�re having the problem of low libido, then you should be concerned about your health.
Conclusion
By now you are aware of all the 8 symptoms of thyroid disorder you cannot afford to ignore. If you experience any of these symptoms, then you must be alert. Some types of thyroid disorder demand a regular visit to the doctor along with regular treatments.
Neither you should keep your thyroid disorder untreated, nor you should be careless regarding your treatment by keeping it under-treated because this can lead to serious consequences. This may also result in life-threatening problems. The study shows that thyroid disorder is also linked to the increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Analyze your body conditions and stay safe.
Gluten-free dominates the free-from category, especially the baking mix subcategory. Gluten-free product sales in 2015 grew nearly 10 percent to $25 billion, according to SPINS data.
“Gluten-free is growing,” notes Michelle Lorge, VP of marketing for Chicago-based Simple Mills. “Just in general, I would say that we are seeing the whole allergen-free world growing. What we found was that the allergen-free world is growing not just for people with allergies. Folks are realizing some of this element of bioindividuality and the fact that they’ve got sensitivities. Those sensitivities can be very different depending on the person because we’re all unique human beings; while they’re not necessarily truly �diagnosed’ with an issue, they know that they don’t feel their best, either physically or mentally, with certain food items.”
Contents
Clean and Simple
The free-from category has expanded well beyond gluten-free. “Customers are looking for clean labels completely across the board,” says Joe Hanni, president of PS Seasoning & Spices, Iron Ridge, Wis.
Lorge agrees that consumers want simple, hence, the name of her company Simple Mills. They want ingredient lists with words they can pronounce and can be found in their own pantries, she notes.
“There’s this whole group that is just looking for a cleaner product,” agrees Kasey Moss, senior brand director for Enjoy Life Foods, Chicago. “They don’t want all the fillers and the gums and all of the other ingredients that you find in a lot of mixes on those markets.” Instead, they turn to the free-from category to find the clean ingredient list.
For example, Simple Mills’ Banana Muffin & Bread Mix’s ingredient list only contains seven ingredients: almond flour, banana, organic coconut sugar, arrowroot, organic coconut flour, baking soda and sea salt.
In terms of clean label, consumers are looking further than just the flour used. “It’s beyond just gluten-free; they want non-GMO. They want all of that without giving up any type of function or flavorability,” Hanni says, crediting the company’s R&D department with formulating gluten-free flours that form the basis of the baking mixes and gives them all the function and flavor of traditional flour.
Search for Flavor
Consumers also are looking for more flavor than is just imparted from the flour. “We’re seeing customers looking for more interesting flavors in the baking mixes, not just baking flours,” Hanni says.
PS Seasoning & Spices has introduced a gourmet line of pancake mixes that includes flavors like Cookies & Cream, Fudge Brownie and Salted Caramel. “They’re looking for great, unique fusion flavors. They’re looking for free-from labeling and again, all of this without losing any type of functionality and/or without compromising any of the flavor as well,” Hanni notes. Retailers need to be aware that consumers are looking to recreate that gourmet experience in their kitchen, he says, and they want products that will make it easy to do so.
“Consumers want to be outside the norm,” he says. “One of the biggest pushes we’re seeing that retailers really need to pay attention to is that [consumers] don’t want a standard pancake. They want to try and make some these different baking items a fun, flavorful experience.”
Enjoy Life has taken a different approach to meet consumers’ growing demand for unique flavors. The company deliberately keeps its mixes’ flavor profile neutral and uses digital marketing to show customers how they can customize the end product to any flavor profile they want. For example, the company’s website offers a simple recipe to make a Cherry Coffee Cake Bread that uses Enjoy Life Foods Pizza Crust Baking Mix and consumers simply have to add sugar, vanilla, cherry preserves, flour and oil to create a completely unique and flavorful product.
Importance of Flour
Simple Mills also is looking for its ingredients to maximize nutrient density. “A lot of allergen-free products, especially in the baking world, are made with white rice or potato starch base devoid of all nutrients,” Lorge says. The company uses almond flour because it imparts all of the nutritional benefits of almonds, which have more nutrients than other tree nuts and are a good source of fiber, high in protein and naturally cholesterol free.
Enjoy Life Foods shies away from the nut flours that many manufacturers may turn to formulate gluten-free or other gluten-free products because nuts are one of the top eight allergens (milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans) and has instead found teff flour to be an on-trend ingredient that works well in its baking mixes. Probiotics is another on-trend ingredient the company has incorporated to make the mixes as attractive as possible to all consumers.
“We took trends that you hear about maybe outside of baking mixes and put them into our mixes to create an all-encompassing product for multiple consumers, not just those with food allergies,” notes Moss.
Beyond Gluten
Simple Mills products are naturally gluten-free, which helps with the clean label aspect that consumers are looking for, due to the ingredients it chooses to use, but its products are also grain-free, soy-free, dairy-free and corn-free. “We know that a lot of our consumers have issues with these elements,” Lorge says. “Not everybody has issues with all of them, but we just generally try to avoid them because we are seeing increases across the board with these ingredients.”
She notes that grain-free in general is a growing trend, some of which could be due to the increasing interest in the Paleo diet. For example, Simple Mills avoids using rice flour because rice is technically a grain and people can have sensitivity to rice. Sales of grain-free foods grew 242 percent in the past year to account for $44 million in sales, she says, adding “While it still pales in comparison to gluten-free, it is definitely a growing trend we are seeing.”
What’s next in the free-from baking mix category? Hanni notes that plant-based diets continue to be on the rise, which will continue to push dairy out of diets as well as more consumers looking to avoid soy. Also, sales of free-from products will continue to grow as the price of the items continues to go down as manufacturers figure out how to make them more cost-efficiently.
Moss also thinks dairy may be the next big food item that consumers will look to eliminate as well as more consumers who do not suffer from food allergies seeking out the free-from products as a way to find the clean labels they want in order to eat more healthfully.
“In general, consumers are becoming a lot more aware,” Moss notes. “It’s an opportunity for retailers to really offer an alternative to consumers that are wanting to explore a newer, cleaner product.”
New Products
Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix
Birch Benders’ Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix features the exclusive seasonal flavor of sweet potatoes. Real sweet potatoes are blended with vanilla, brown sugar and buttermilk to bring flavor to a traditional holiday favorite while only requiring consumers to add water. The mix is made with all natural, non-GMO ingredients, contains no trans fat and is cholesterol-free. SRP: 4.99 Birch Bender, Denver, 303-658-9271 ext. 104, www.birchbenders.com
Cinnamon Sugar Muffin Mix
Among Friends Baking Mixes introduces Francie’s Make It Your Own Cinnamon Sugar Muffin Mix made with Vietnamese cinnamon spice � a perfect snack or breakfast to go. The new muffin mix is gluten-free and made with high-quality whole grain flours that offer superior flavor, texture and nutrition. All of the brand’s mixes are free of high glycemic fillers and gums like tapioca starch and xanthan gum. Other products available include Cora’s Honey Cornbread, Papa Tom’s Perfect Pancake and Alec’s Awesomely Fudgy Brownie mix. Among Friends LLC, Ann Arbor, Mich., 202-276-1909, www.amongfriendsbakingmixes.com
A Natural Cholesterol-Lowering Supplement Red Yeast Rice Poses Same Health Risks As Statin Drugs
a new study contends.
Red yeast rice could increase risk of muscle injury or liver damage, Italian researchers reported after reviewing 13 years of patient data.
“These findings raise the hypothesis that the safety profile of red yeast rice is highly similar to that of synthetic statins and warrants further investigations to finally characterize the safety profile of red yeast rice,” the researchers concluded.
American heart experts said it’s not surprising that the researchers discovered adverse reactions to red yeast rice that are similar to those produced by statins.
That’s because one of the compounds in red yeast rice — monacolin K — has the same chemical structure as the statin drug lovastatin, said Dr. Paul Thompson.
“Statins actually exist in nature, in fungi and molds and stuff like that,” said Thompson, an American College of Cardiology fellow. “Patients need to know there is lovastatin in this product.” (Brand names for lovastatin are Mevacor and Altoprev.)
However, the new report only details 55 reports of adverse reactions during the entire study period. To Thompson, this indicates they are “a very rare problem.”
“It’s a tempest in a teapot,” Thompson said of the new study.
Red Yeast Rice Is Concocted From Yeast Grown On Rice
U.S. sales of red yeast rice dietary supplements totaled about $20 million a year in both 2008 and 2009, the most recent years for which data are available, according to the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration views red yeast rice products containing more than trace amounts of monacolin K as unapproved new drugs, since they are chemically identical to lovastatin, and cannot be sold legally as dietary supplements.
But dozens of red yeast rice products remain on the market. And products tested as recently as 2011 have been found to contain monacolin K in substantial amounts, the NCCIH says.
For the new study, the Italian researchers reviewed government data collected on natural health products between April 2002 and September 2015.
Reports of muscle pain came from 19 patients, including some who experienced an increase in levels of creatine phosphokinase, an enzyme released when muscle tissue is damaged, the researchers said.
Thirteen of 14 “serious” cases required hospitalization. Ten patients suffered liver damage, the researchers found.
In addition, 12 patients reported gastrointestinal reactions that included upset stomach, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
The researchers noted that muscle pain and liver damage are common side effects of statins, which countless people take to lower their cholesterol and their risk of heart attack and stroke.
Study Doesn’t Directly Tie Red Yeast Rice To Any Of These Health Problems
“There’s no way to be absolutely guaranteed certain that most of these cases were related to the red yeast rice,” he said. Thompson is chief of cardiology at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut.
Patients with high cholesterol often buy red yeast rice over the counter when they’re concerned about the side effects of prescription statins, said Dr. Robert Eckel, a spokesman for the American Heart Association.
“You have to let them know that, well, you’re actually taking a statin,” said Eckel, who’s also a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
The Council for Responsible Nutrition, a supplement manufacturer trade group, recommends that people talk with their doctor before taking red yeast rice to lower cholesterol.
“For the small percentage of people who may have an adverse response to red yeast rice, a doctor can help to determine whether it can be tolerated, and if not, to seek other alternatives,” said Duffy MacKay. He’s the council’s senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs.
Some clinical trials have shown that people with a history of statin intolerance seem to tolerate red yeast rice, Eckel said.
Thompson said he prescribes a fair amount of red yeast rice in his clinic as a way to ease reluctant patients into statin treatment.
But because it’s a supplement, the amount of active ingredient in red yeast rice can vary widely from brand to brand and even batch to batch, Thompson and Eckel said.
“The products are not as well-controlled and the dosages are variable,” Eckel said.
Red yeast rice also can prove expensive if taken regularly, because it isn’t covered by insurance, Thompson said.
“My advice is people should take regular statins, even if they have to take it at very low doses,” Thompson said.
The new study appears in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
SOURCES: Paul D. Thompson, M.D., chief, cardiology, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Conn., and fellow, American College of Cardiology; Robert Eckel, M.D., professor, University of Colorado School of Medicine, and spokesman, American Heart Association; Duffy MacKay, senior vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs, Council for Responsible Nutrition; Jan. 19, 2017, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, online
News stories are written and provided by HealthDay and do not reflect federal policy, the views of MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Have you ever wondered why the endless diet plans never work? Find out whether it is a fact or fiction before you follow them religiously!
Hear it straight from the horse’s mouth. Rounding up the view shared by weight loss experts, we zeroed on the top 5 dieting myths, that have been making a fool out of you for a very long time.
Contents
1. Gluten Free is The Way to Go:
Whoever got you believing gluten-free products are all you need to lose weight- fooled you big. The products almost always use rice flour that has a tendency to increase the sugar content of the food. The result is altering blood sugar level that leaves you with hunger pangs, reported Women’s Health.
2. Dairy is Not For Diet:
Here’s research that will leave you happy. Full-fat dairy products have shown better weight loss benefits than that glass of skimmed milk you hold. Dairy products are high in protein and are your best bet for weight loss diet. So, next time somebody asks you to ditch the glass of full-fat milk, ditch them instead.
3. Cut Fat to Lose Fat:
Suddenly cutting down on your fat intake will do you no good. There is a good fat and a bad fat. Natural fat and dairy fats are healthy. Avoid processed foods these come with the bad fat.
4. Consuming Food After 8 PM is Bad:
According to The Health Site, this is another dieting myth, which apparently makes no sense. If you are with your friends gorging on oily food, it is bad irrespective of the time. If you can keep your midnight hunger pangs satiated with a healthy snack then, by all means, go for it.
5. Green Tea is Mandatory For Losing Weight:
Have to agree that green tea is good for health but mind you, it is no superfood for your weight loss program. The amount of green tea you have to consume to lose a proper weight is just way too much. Buying expensive green tea weight loss supplements was a marketing technique that got you good.
While there’s scant evidence that herbal medications are safe or effective to treat heart conditions, they remain popular among people with heart disease, a new review suggests.
“Physicians should improve their knowledge of herbal medications in order to adequately weigh the clinical implications related to their use,” said senior review author Dr. Graziano Onder.
Onder, of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome, Italy, is an assistant professor in the department of geriatrics, neurosciences and orthopedics.
Physicians Should Explain That Natural Does Not Always Mean Safe
Onder�said in a news release from the American College of Cardiology.
In the United States, herbal medications can be sold without being tested in clinical trials. As a result, there’s little evidence of their safety or effectiveness, the review authors explained.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration can only determine that an herbal medication is unsafe after it has already hurt someone. However, this hasn’t stopped many people with heart disease from taking herbal treatments to improve their heart health, the researchers said.
To explore the issue, the investigators looked at 42 herbal medications that have been identified as a possible treatment for one or more heart conditions, including high blood pressure, heart failure and hardening of the arteries.
Onder’s team found there isn’t enough evidence to determine if herbal remedies are causing potential complications.
Many people don’t tell their doctor they are taking herbal medications, probably because they don’t view these as treatments that could cause serious side effects, the study authors said.
Complicating matters even further, many people taking herbal medications don’t follow through on their treatment plan and fail to take the medication prescribed by their doctor properly, the findings showed.
Doctors Should Talk To Their Patients About Potential Risks Of Using Herbal Medications
researchers concluded.
“Communicating with the patient is a crucial component of the process,” Onder said. “The pros and cons of specific herbal medications should be explained and their risk-benefit profile properly discussed.”
The review was published Feb. 27 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
SOURCE: American College of Cardiology, news release, Feb. 27, 2017
News stories are written and provided by HealthDay and do not reflect federal policy, the views of MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Inning accordance with Mayo clinic discomfort research has resulted in discoveries that alpha lipoic acid may operate in relieving uncomfortable symptoms. Much can be done to ease the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy and avoid further damage.
Contents
Exactly what is Alpha Lipoic Acid?
It’s a naturally occurring fatty acid in our bodies. It’s likewise known as lipoic acid, thioctic acid or abbreviated as ALA however shouldn’t be puzzled with alpha linolenic acid.
Alpha lipoic acid is found in a lot of foods especially in animal internal organs such as the liver, heart and kidney. Due to the fact that it is covalently bound, the naturally happening type is not readily available so that extracting it from natural sources yields poor outcomes.
The chemical structure of alpha lipoic acid shows 2 thiol or sulfur groups. When lowered the result is called dihydrolipoic acid and when in an oxidized type alpha lipoic acid.
Functions of Alpha Lipoic Acid in the Body
It is a fat and as such it is used by the body to produce energy for the body’s functions. It transforms glucose into energy.
It is one potent antioxidant. This particular is significant in neuropathy. It’s both water and fat soluble if compared to the majority of antioxidants. Being so, it quickly permeates nerve cells and secures the integrity of nerve cells from oxidative damage. It scavengers for radicals and secures the integrity of the afferent neuron. Another one of its considerable function is its capability to renew vitamin C and glutathione when these antioxidants remain in low supply. Glutathione is another vital anti-oxidant that eliminates hazardous toxins. They cooperate together to safeguard the harmful impacts of complimentary radicals and protect the integrity of cells from oxidative damage.
Research on Alpha Lipoic Acid and Neuropathy
Initial studies suggest that it might assist in diabetic neuropathy. In one of the biggest research studies, 181 people took 600 mg, 1200 mg or 1800 mg of alpha lipoic acid or a placebo. After 5 weeks, those who took in the supplement have actually shown enhanced signs. A 600 mg daily dose was best endured which likewise provided the finest advantages.
Research carried out by the Linus Pauling Institute has actually shown the following evidence relating to the function of alpha lipoic acid in diabetes and in diabetic neuropathy:
� improves glucose usage in type 2 Diabetes mellitus by boosting insulin sensitivity. The result of 3 various research studies as reported by the institute suggested that the optimum reliable dose is 600 mg/ day. The R-isomer of ALA may be more reliable in enhancing insulin sensitivity than the L-isomer.
� by some mechanism it increases glucose uptake in fat and muscle cells
� enhances the function and conduction of neurons in diabetes
� A neuropathic complication defined by lowered heart rate variability was “considerably enhanced” by treatment of 800 mg daily of the racemic kind.
� Beneficial effects are related primarily to its antioxidant homes. As an antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid scavenges reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that can cause damage to DNA, proteins and lipids in cell membranes. Alpha lipoic acid and dihydrolipoic acid likewise hinder copper and iron moderated oxidative damage.
� may help in diabetic end-stage renal illness on hemodialysis.
� Research study show a considerable enhancement in electrophysiological tests of nerve conduction after 2 years of treatment with 1200/mg or 600/mg than those on placebo.
� Apart from its helpful role in diabetes, it helps in metabolic syndrome, halts Alzheimer’s development and age-related cognitive dysfunction and lots of others.
Recommended Alpha Lipoic Acid Dose
As you age the capacity of your body to produce alpha lipoic acid reduces and you can gain from its numerous benefits.
The Linus Pauling institute suggests the R-isomer of 200-400 mg daily for healthy individuals.
For diabetic neuropathy, the optimum recommended dose is 600 – 1,800 mg/ day of the R-isomer.
For cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy a suggested oral dosage of 800/day of the R-isomer likewise is suggested.
Bottom Line
If you decide to supplement your anti-diabetic medication with alpha lipoic acid in the hope of treating your diabetic neuropathy ask your physicians’ suggestion specifically if you are taking other medications to lower blood sugar levels.
This antioxidant can assist in your diabetes management. However, it’s essential to remember that management of diabetes is a lifelong dedication. Keep in mind of your diet, workout day-to-day and monitor your blood sugar levels regularly. Take your anti-diabetic medications or insulin as directed by your doctor.
Once they have actually begun, diligently observing these things can prevent complications and stop them in their tracks.
The chemical structure of alpha lipoic acid shows 2 thiol or sulfur groups. When decreased the outcome is called dihydrolipoic acid and when in an oxidized type alpha lipoic acid. In one of the biggest research studies, 181 individuals took 600 mg, 1200 mg or 1800 mg of alpha lipoic acid or a placebo. As an antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid scavenges reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that can cause damage to DNA, proteins and lipids in cell membranes. Alpha lipoic acid and dihydrolipoic acid also inhibit copper and iron mediated oxidative damage.
You have actually been feeling that tingling at your toes for more than a couple of weeks now. At night, a sharp jabbing discomfort at your feet wakes you up. You have trouble in strolling due to discomfort.
Peripheral Neuritis (pronounced/ new.righ’t is/).
Peripheral neuritis is the most common type of neuropathy (pronounced/ new.rop’ uth-ee/) occurring among diabetics. It affects your toes, feet and later your arms and hands. As you lose your capacity to feel any pain in your extremities serious problems set in.
The manifestations of other types of neuropathy depend upon what types of nerves are impacted. Apart from peripheral neuritis other types of diabetic neuropathy are autonomic (pronounced/ aw” tuh.nom’ ick/) neuropathy, radiculoplexus (pronounced/ ra.dick” yoo.lo.pleck’ sus/) neuropathy and mononeuropathy (noticable/ mon” o-new. rop’ uth-ee/).
Autonomic Neuropathy
Autonomic neuropathy affects the nerves controlling the functions of your body organs. Your free nerve system is responsible in the functioning of your heart, lungs, stomach, intestines, sex organs, bladder and eyes. When the nerves of your bladder are impacted you’ll experience urinary incontinence. On the other hand, when your stomach nerves are included you’ll feel sluggish stomach clearing described as gastroparesis with queasiness, loss of cravings and throwing up. Irregularity or unchecked diarrhea can also be symptoms.
When the nerves of sex organs are included, males suffer impotence while women sexual troubles.
The nerves of your heart can be impacted too and your body will have trouble in getting used to high blood pressure and heart rate. You’ll feel a quick heart rate at rest. You’ll go through an unexpected drop in blood pressure from a sitting to a standing position that can cause faintness or lightheadedness.
If your eye nerves are impacted, you’ll have difficulty adjusting from light to dark. Dangerously, your body may not identify low blood sugar levels.
Radiculoplexus Neuropathy
Radiculoplexus neuropathy is likewise called as diabetic amyotrophy (pronounced/ am” eye.ot’ ruh.fee/), femoral neuropathy or proximal neuropathy. It affects the nerves in your thighs, butts, hips or legs. The signs appear all of a sudden and seriously. The muscles affected become weak then atrophy and you’ll have to struggle increasing from a sitting position. , if your abdomen is impacted swelling happens.. Gradually, weight reduction ensues.
Mononeuropathy
Other signs consist of pain in your foot, shin and front of thigh; trouble focusing your eyes, double vision and discomfort behind your eye; chest or abdominal pain. Compression neuropathy can take place such as in carpal tunnel syndrome.
Why Neuropathy Occurs
Diabetic neuropathy gradually occurs from years of uncontrolled blood sugar level levels that damage the nerves. Sometimes, cigarette smoking and alcohol abuse add to the advancement of neuropathy. Medical professionals say a hereditary personality is to blame and in some cases the cause is totally unidentified.
Management of Neuropathy
Inning accordance with the Mayo clinic the goals in the management of neuropathy is to slow the development of the condition, to ease pain, manage other issues that might occur and to restore the function of the body location impacted.
The best way to slow development is to tighten control of your blood sugar levels. Display your blood sugar level levels daily. Your blood glucose levels should be in between 70- 130 mg/dl prior to meals and no less that 180 mg/dl two hours after meals. Undergo Hemoglobin A1C screening every three months and your values should not be more than 7 percent.
Take your anti-diabetic medications as prescribed by your health care supplier. Couple this with the best diet, workout and healthy way of life habits.
To relieve discomfort, your physician will recommend medications such as anti-seizure medication, anti-depressants, topical anesthetics or opioids which have actually been revealed to work well.
Antispasmodics can ease incontinence. Taking in smaller sized but regular meals can ease gastrointestinal problems. The occurrence of low blood pressure on standing can be avoided by standing gradually and drinking additional fluids.
Medications can bring back functions of organs such as in erectile dysfunction. When they aren’t reliable guys can resort to vacuuming. In females, lubrications can assist.
Alternative Treatment.
Alternative treatments work well too such as transcutaneous electrical nerve acupuncture, stimulation and biofeedback. Scientific research studies had shown that they can assist in reducing signs and slowing the progress of neuropathy.
The best method to prevent diabetic neuropathy is to keep typical blood glucose levels daily. Continue your diabetic medications or insulin as advised by your physician, pay attention to your diet plan, weave in exercise in your day-to-day regimen and maintain healthy way of life practices.
The symptoms of other types of neuropathy depend upon exactly what types of nerves are affected. Apart from peripheral neuritis other types of diabetic neuropathy are free (pronounced/ aw” tuh.nom’ ick/) neuropathy, radiculoplexus (noticable/ ra.dick” yoo.lo.pleck’ sus/) neuropathy and mononeuropathy (noticable/ mon” o-new. Autonomic neuropathy impacts the nerves controlling the functions of your body organs. Radiculoplexus neuropathy is likewise called as diabetic amyotrophy (pronounced/ am” eye.ot’ ruh.fee/), femoral neuropathy or proximal neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy gradually ensues from years of unchecked blood sugar levels that ruin the nerves.
Exactly what you might not understand is that there are nutritional supplements and vitamins you can take to assist control your blood sugar. And numerous of these supplements go to the website can also assist with the impacts of diabetic neuropathy – one of the chief factors to amputations in diabetic clients.
The number of medical studies that reveal adding crucial nutrients to the health care routines of diabetic neuropathy patients is growing continuously.
Given, these dietary supplements will not fill in correct diet, controlling your blood glucose and a sound exercise strategy, but they can certainly improve the efficiency of all of these pieces of the diabetic neuropathy puzzle.
What You Must Look For in Nutritional Supplements
As a client with diabetic neuropathy, your requirements in nutritional supplements are various than those of other people. While lots of companies utilize the convenience of their once-a-day multivitamin as a selling point, a tablet you take only when a day is only going to be truly effective for the 2 hours after take it. You need more than that for the signs of your diabetic neuropathy.
To get the complete impact for treating your diabetic neuropathy, you have to preserve a stable healing level of these vitamins and nutrients throughout the day to assist keep your blood sugar under control.
Pick supplements that you take at last three times a day to keep the levels consistent in your blood stream.
And look for dietary supplements that come from an FDA authorized producer to make sure that what you’re taking is pharmaceutical grade.
Which Vitamin Supplements You Should Take
There is a lot information on the marketplace now about nutritional supplements and vitamins. Do not go out there and purchase vitamins without being prepared. Do your research study and talk to a professional like your favorite clinician to make sure you’re taking the ideal vitamins for your specific diabetic neuropathy signs. We have a very particular protocol in our centers.
Here’s a fast cheat sheet of the Top 12 vitamins and nutrients for diabetic neuropathy treatment to assist you determine a few of the important supplements that can assist your diabetic neuropathy and exactly what they do:
Thiamin (Vitamin B1) – assists preserve healthy oxygen levels in the blood stream which suggests that you less possibility of nerve damage due to bad oxygen levels reaching the nerves. The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of thiamine for the average individual is 1.0 to 2.4 mg per day however diabetic neuropathy patients need to take in the series of 60 mg daily in equally divided dosages.
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) – works in mix with Vitamin B6 to help your body use glucose effectively. The RDA is 1.2 to 1.6 mg each day however restorative levels need to be around 60 mg each day.
Vitamin B6 – in addition to folic acid and B12, it helps avoid nerve damage and heart attacks. It can likewise help avoid diabetic blindness and/or vision loss. Restorative levels should be at least 60 mg each day but be extremely mindful with your dosage. Some toxicity has actually been reported with incredibly high levels of B6.
Vitamin B12 – works with folic acid to assist prevent stroke and loss of limbs due to diabetic neuropathy. It likewise helps ease neuropathy pain.
Biotin – when taken in mix with chromium, biotin (a B vitamin) assists insulin work better, keeps the pancreas working well, and decreases blood sugar levels.
Chromium – when taken with biotin, assists insulin work better, keeps the pancreas working well and reduces blood sugar level levels.
Copper – helps secure the cells in the pancreas that make insulin healthy, helps avoid diabetes related damage to capillary and nerves and lowers blood glucose levels.
Folic Acid – deal with B12 to help avoid strokes and loss of limbs due to diabetic neuropathy.
Magnesium – helps alleviate diabetic neuropathy discomfort and helps insulin work more successfully.
Manganese – helps avoid damage to capillary and nerves.
Selenium – in some cases called an insulin copy cat, selenium helps take blood sugar level into the cells. Selenium protects versus capillary and nerve damage from elevated blood sugar level levels, two of the contributing consider diabetic neuropathy.
Zinc – assists blood glucose enter the cells and insulin work more efficiently.
These supplements, when utilized effectively and under the care and supervision of your very own clinician, can help enhance your diabetic neuropathy signs and reduce the opportunities of permanent nerve damage and eventual amputation.
Take note – These Supplements Will Not Take The Place Of Consuming Properly & Exercising
They operate in mix with a healthier lifestyle, not in location of it.
And never ever self prescribe vitamins supplements and nutrients. Deal with your clinician to get here at the levels you need for your particular diabetic neuropathy and blood glucose control concerns. As with numerous other things, too much of an excellent thing can do more damage than good if not appropriately managed and monitored by a specialist.
And never ever self recommend vitamins supplements and nutrients. Work with you NeuropathyDR � clinician to reach the levels you require for your specific diabetic neuropathy and blood sugar control problems. Just like lots of other things, too much of a good thing can do more harm than great if not effectively regulated and monitored by an expert.
Exactly what you might not realize is that there are dietary supplements and vitamins you can take to assist manage your blood sugar. And many of these supplements can also assist with the results of diabetic neuropathy – one of the chief contributors to amputations in diabetic patients.
Vitamin B6 – along with folic acid and B12, it assists avoid nerve damage and heart attacks. It can likewise help prevent diabetic loss of sight and/or vision loss. Work with your clinician to get here at the levels you need for your particular diabetic neuropathy and blood sugar control problems.
Wearable fitness monitors (think Fitbit) provide a “motivation alert” as you approach the magic number of 10,000 steps per day, with a “celebration” of lights on their displays when that goal is reached. But a new study shows that objective may not be anything to celebrate — and focuses on a new threshold for maximum health benefits.
The study, published in the March International Journal of Obesity, and reported in The New York Times, is based on mail carriers in Scotland, and researchers at the University of Warwick in England found that the 10,000-step regimen is too conservative. For optimum heart-health benefits, it’s best to go the extra mile — to 15,000 steps.
Mail carriers in Glasgow mostly cover their routes on foot, so researchers knew they would perfect test subjects for the study. They also knew office workers there were seated for most of the day, providing contrast participants. For their study, they followed 111 postal workers of both categories (56 mail carriers, and 55 office workers) and included both sexes between the ages of 40 and 60. Researchers compiled data on blood sugar levels, body-mass index (BMI — a measure of body fat based on height-to-weight ratio), waist sizes, and cholesterol levels. Participants each wore a fitness monitor throughout the day for a week, including time at work, at home and on the weekends.
Researchers compiled data based on activity during waking hours. This included time spent seated and on foot. What they found was enlightening. Between work and home, some of the office workers sat for more than 15 hours in total each day. The office workers who sat for most of the day tended to have larger waistlines, higher BMI numbers, and unfavorable cholesterol profiles. The researchers also figured in late-night shift work (which has been proven affect heart health), family history, and age.
The study also showed that for every hour spent sitting beyond five hours, office workers added about two-tenths of a percent to the likelihood of developing heart disease.
In contrast, any amount of walking or standing reduced the chances of having a large waistline and other risk factors associated with a healthy heart.
But the benefits of the postal carriers who walked the equivalent of at least three hours per day (the magic 15,000) were a step up: They had normal BMIs and waistlines and metabolic profiles — in other words, lessened risk of heart disease.
The study seems to confirm that the 10,000-step goal has not kept pace with modern waistlines and eating habits. Quite a few sources, including RunnersWorld.com, say the 10,000 steps-per-day goal gets its origins from Japan in the 1960s. Dr. Yoshiro Yatano, then a professor at Kyushu University of Health and Welfare, pegged the goal at 10,000 after concern over growing obesity rates. That’s roughly the amount of steps that would burn about 20 percent of a person’s daily calories at the time. He coupled his concerns with a pedometer that was developed in 1965 and the campaign took off.
But it’s a moving target in terms of optimum health benefits. Diets change. Even before the Glascow study, not all health experts agreed to the amount of steps necessary, and some argue the type of exercise makes a difference as well. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers no step guides at all, preferring instead to focus on 150 minutes of moderate activity per week (which, in steps-per-day language, translates to about 8,000).
Of course, any amount of exercise is better than none at all, and it’s important to remember not to be discouraged if you can’t reach 15,000 steps per day or even 10,000 steps per day. But if you’re among those who set out to get the most heart-health protection possible, and you’ve relied on that magic 10,000, you might want to consider the results of the Glasgow postal workers. Better get moving.
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