Health News
Reducing carbs can lower cholesterol
.....Reducing carbohydrate intake results in healthy improvements in blood fat levels, even if a person doesn't lose weight, a recent study shows.
.....Scientists now believe that carbohydrates, especially simple sugars, can cause unhealthy changes in blood fats by causing fat to collect in the liver -- just as it does on one's thighs or belly. These fats eventually find their way into the bloodstream, Cutting down on these fat deposits by cutting carbs reduces fat levels in the blood, and may also boost the body's ability to break down fats that do reach the bloodstream.
.....To investigate whether moderate reduction in carbohydrate intake might affect cholesterol levels, The study reported that a group of 178 overweight men eat a standard diet including 54 percent energy intake from carbohydrates for one week. The men were then randomly assigned to continue the same diet, or switch to a 39 percent carbohydrate diet, or a 26 percent carb diet for three weeks.
.....For an additional five weeks, men ate a similar diet but their calorie intakes were reduced to produce weight loss. In the final four weeks of the study, their energy intake was adjusted for weight stabilization.
.....Compared to the men who stayed on the standard diet, those with the lowest carb intake showed reductions in harmful triglycerides and "bad" LDL cholesterol levels. They also enjoyed an increase in the ratio of "good" HDL cholesterol to total cholesterol levels, and other improvements in their blood fat profile.
.....These healthy changes were seen whether or not the men were eating less saturated fat, and whether or not they lost weight. |
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| Fibre & Cholesterol |
 .....Soluble fiber may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol and LDL. Soluble fiber is thought to decrease the absorption of bile. Bile, which contains cholesterol, is necessary for the digestion of fat. Bile is secreted into the intestine in response to food intake and most is reabsorbed after digestion is complete. When soluble fiber is present not as much bile is reabsorbed and more must be made by the liver. Some of the cholesterol that would have circulated in the blood is used to make the bile.
.....Clinical studies have shown that, taken daily, 7 grams of soluble fiber from psyllium husk may help reduce heart disease risk by lowering cholesterol. The reduction is considered small but nevertheless makes a contribution to reducing heart disease risk.
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| Pain Relievers |
| .....There are three main over the counter pain relievers in Canada; ASA, ibuprofen and acetaminophen. They work very similarly, but they all have their slight differences. |
 ASA is short for Acetylsalicylic Acid and is an analgesic (pain-killer), anti-inflammatory and an antipyretic (fever reducer), and falls into a category called Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs or NSAIDS. ASA is one of the oldest medicines known to science. Researchers have found that ASA stops the body from producing hormone-like substances called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are responsible for the symptoms of pain, fever and inflammation when people strain muscles, get colds or have arthritis. |
 Ibuprofen is another NSAID and is slightly less irritating to the stomach, but people with ulcers should still avoid using this product. Ibuprofen is used to reduce the fever, pain, inflammation, and stiffness caused by many conditions, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and abdominal cramps associated with menstruation. |
 Acetaminophen also blocks the production of prostaglandins, so it acts as an analgesic and an antipyretic. However, it has no anti-inflammatory action because it only works in the central nervous system and not in the rest of the body. This product is also the best choice for treating pain or fever in children.
.....Talk to your Peoples Pharmacist for more information
on pain relieving medications. |
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