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Uma doença autoimune é aquela onde o sistema imunológico de uma pessoa começa a atacar seu próprio corpo. O sistema imunológico cria anticorpos contra seus próprios tecidos.

Praticamente todas as partes do corpo estão suscetíveis a uma doença autoimune.

Veja abaixo, algumas doenças e condições que se acredita ter um componente autoimune: 

Anemia hemolítica autoimune: o sistema imunológico destrói os glóbulos vermelhos do indivíduo;

hepatite autoimune: causa inflamação do fígado;

Doença de Berger: também conhecida como nefropatia IgA, que causa danos nos rins; 

Síndrome da fadiga crônica:  causa mal-estar e sensação de estar muito doente;

Doença de Crohn: causa inflamação nos intestinos; 

Dermatomicose: afeta a pele e os músculos;

Fibromialgia: causa dor crônica e rigidez nos músculos;

Tireoidite de Hashimoto: inflamação crônica da glândula tireoide;

Trombocitopenia idiopática purpura: causa baixa contagem de plaquetas interferindo na coagulação normal do sangue;

Líquen plano: afeta a pele, olhos, boca e genitais;

Esclerose múltipla: o corpo ataca partes do sistema nervoso;

Miastenia grave: afeta os nervos e causa fraqueza muscular grave;

Psoríase: causa lesões cutâneas e coceira;

Febre reumática: causa danos aos órgãos do corpo, incluindo o coração, após uma infecção por Streptococcus;

Artrite reumatoide: o corpo ataca as articulações;

Esclerodermia: que envolve a pele, intestino e outras estruturas 

Síndrome de Sjogren:  causa olhos secos e boca seca;

Lúpus eritematoso sistêmico: em que o corpo ataca tecido conjuntivo nas articulações e também nos rins;

Diabetes tipo 1: condição em que o indivíduo não produz insulina suficiente;

Colite ulcerativa: causa inflamação no intestino;

Vitiligo: causa uma diminuição nos pigmentos da pele.

O que acontece com o corpo?

A função do sistema imunológico é proteger o corpo de substâncias estranhas. É o sistema imunológico que combate infecções causadas por bactérias ou vírus. Às vezes, os próprios tecidos de uma pessoa podem ser vistos como “estranhos” pelo sistema imunológico. Quando isso acontece, o sistema imunológico responde atacando o próprio corpo, e essa resposta é conhecida como doença autoimune.

Quais os sintomas da doença autoimune?

Os sintomas de uma doença autoimune dependem da doença específica e do órgão ou tecido atingido. Por exemplo, lúpus eritematoso sistêmico pode causar insuficiência renal, artrite e erupção cutânea no rosto. Anemia hemolítica autoimune causa anemia, ou baixa contagem de glóbulos vermelhos.

Os sintomas gerais das doenças autoimunes incluem:

Febre baixa; 

Mal-estar, uma vaga sensação de estar doente; 

Fadiga, ficar cansado facilmente.

Quais são as causas da doença autoimune?

Algumas doenças autoimunes, como a psoríase, correm em famílias e podem ter um componente genético. Embora ninguém saiba ao certo o que causa uma resposta autoimune, alguns gatilhos já foram identificados. Estes gatilhos, que podem provocar um surto da doença ou agravamento dos sintomas, incluem: 

Envelhecimento;

Cânceres, como leucemia; 

Hormônios;

Uso de alguns medicamentos; 

Gravidez; 

Estresse; 

Luz solar;

Infecção viral, como resfriado ou gripe.

Pesquisas recentes sugerem que as doenças autoimunes podem ser desencadeadas por uma transferência de células entre o feto e a mãe durante a gravidez. O estudo envolveu mulheres com esclerodermia, uma doença autoimune envolvendo a pele. Essas mulheres possuem mais células fetais no sangue anos após a gravidez do que mulheres que não têm esclerodermia. Embora sejam necessárias mais pesquisas para comprovar esses achados, o estudo oferece uma explicação para a incidência muito maior de doenças autoimunes em mulheres do que em homens.

Como prevenir uma doença autoimune?

Não são conhecidos métodos para prevenção de doenças autoimunes. Evitar os gatilhos pode ajudar a não desencadeá-las ou piorar os sintomas.

Como é feito o diagnóstico de uma doença autoimune?

Muitas doenças autoimunes são diagnosticadas com base nos sintomas, através de exames físicos e de exames laboratoriais. Essas doenças podem ser difíceis de diagnosticar, especialmente no início. Às vezes, os sintomas de uma doença se sobrepõem aos de outra. Nesses casos, pode estar presente uma sobreposição ou doença “mista”.

Algumas doenças autoimunes precisam de outros exames complementares para fazer o diagnóstico, como a biópsia de um pequeno pedaço de tecido removido da área afetada e então testado e examinado no laboratório. Uma amostra de biópsia pode ser retirada de quase qualquer parte do corpo, incluindo a pele, rim, fígado ou intestinos.

Testes especiais de raio-X podem precisar ser feitos. Por exemplo, alterações nas articulações vistas nos raios-X articulares podem ajudar a fazer o diagnóstico de artrite reumatoide em alguns casos.

Quais são os efeitos a longo prazo de uma doença autoimune?

Os efeitos a longo prazo variam de acordo com cada caso. Os efeitos a longo prazo dessas doenças incluem destruição de tecido ou perda de função em parte do corpo. Por exemplo, a insuficiência renal é um problema bastante comum em pessoas com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico grave. Pessoas com artrite reumatoide grave podem não ser capazes de amarrar seus sapatos devido ao dano nas articulações de suas mãos. Muitas pessoas com doenças autoimunes também têm maior risco de infecções.

Quais são os riscos da doença autoimune para os outros?

Doenças autoimunes não são contagiosas e não representam risco algum para os outros.

Quais são os tratamentos da doença autoimune?

O objetivo do tratamento em doenças autoimunes é reduzir os sintomas e evitar danos aos órgãos do corpo. Isso é feito controlando o sistema imunológico e a inflamação que ele causa. Muitos dos medicamentos utilizados para tratar doenças autoimunes suprimem o sistema imunológico. Ou seja, eles impedem o sistema imunológico de atacar o corpo. No entanto, isso também reduz a capacidade do corpo de combater infecções.

Os tratamentos para reduzir os sintomas podem incluir: 

Anti-inflamatórios não esteroides (AINEs), incluindo aspirina ou ibuprofeno, para aliviar a febre, dor nas articulações e dores musculares;

Corticosteroides ou esteroides, ajudam a reduzir a inflamação. Esses medicamentos são frequentemente usados a curto prazo para fazer uma pessoa passar por um episódio repentino ou surto; 

Medicamentos para suprimir o sistema imunológico, como metotrexato, azatioprina e ciclofosfamida, que ajudam a diminuir inflamações e danos nos órgãos.

Em alguns casos, outros tratamentos podem ser necessários. Por exemplo, pode ser necessária cirurgia para o bloqueio do intestino, que pode ocorrer na doença de Crohn. Transfusões de sangue podem ser necessárias em casos graves de anemia hemolítica autoimune. A insulina é dada a indivíduos com diabetes tipo 1 para controlar os níveis de glicose no sangue.

Muitos estudos de pesquisa estão atualmente em andamento para desenvolver ou testar tratamentos para doenças autoimunes. Estes estudos incluem: 

Examinar o papel do interferon em desordens selecionadas. O interferon beta, por exemplo, foi aprovado para o tratamento da esclerose múltipla e está sendo testado em outras doenças autoimunes também;

Estudando o uso de células-tronco, que são um tipo de célula que pode crescer em diferentes tipos de células;

Usando novos anticorpos para modificar a forma como as células T encorajam o corpo a atacar seus próprios tecidos.

Embora as doenças autoimunes não possam ser curadas, existem etapas que uma pessoa pode seguir para melhorar sua qualidade de vida. Essas etapas incluem: 

Compreender e seguir o plano de tratamento desenvolvido em conjunto com o médico; 

Evitar, sempre que possível, os gatilhos que pioram sua condição; 

Identificar estressores e usar técnicas de gerenciamento de estresse para diminuir seu nível de estresse; 

Equilibrar a necessidade de atividade, descanso e sono;

Manter uma dieta saudável, conforme recomendado pelo médico. Se nenhuma dieta especial for recomendada, o ideal é seguir a pirâmide guia alimentar;

Unindo um grupo de apoio para um transtorno específico, como a síndrome da fadiga crônica.

Quais são os efeitos colaterais dos tratamentos?

Medicamentos usados para tratar doenças autoimunes têm muitos efeitos colaterais. Os efeitos colaterais incluem: 

Perturbação estomacal, sangramento estomacal, dores de cabeça, e diminuição da função renal causada por AINEs; 

Ganho de peso, pressão alta, acne, contusão fácil, perda óssea conhecida como osteoporose, aumento da glicemia, aumento do risco de infecção e fraqueza muscular, que pode ser causada por corticosteroides; 

Um risco aumentado de infecção, perturbação estomacal e danos hepáticos ou renais que podem ser causados por medicamentos que suprimem o sistema imunológico.

A cirurgia traz risco de sangramento, infecção e reação alérgica à anestesia. Transfusões de sangue têm risco de reações alérgicas e infecções.

O que acontece após o tratamento para a doença?

Doenças autoimunes são muitas vezes doenças de longo prazo com sintomas que podem ir e vir ao longo do tempo. O resultado varia de pessoa para peso. Muitos podem ser controlados com tratamento. Uma pessoa pode precisar de tratamento para o resto de sua vida. Tratamentos específicos estão frequentemente relacionados com os danos corporais que ocorrem.

Como a doença autoimune é monitorada?

Uma pessoa com uma doença autoimune deve fazer exames físicos frequentes. Isso ajuda o médico a monitorar o problema e a ficar atento a possíveis complicações. Exames de sangue podem ajudar a monitorar a doença também. Qualquer sintoma novo ou pior deve ser relatado ao médico.

E aí, o que achou da matéria?

Deixe seu comentário, sua opinião vai motivar o autor a escrever mais!

IMPORTANTE

ESTE ARTIGO NÃO TEM A FINALIDADE DE DIAGNOSTICAR PROBLEMAS DE SAÚDE.

A busca por um profissional médico é imprescindível, visto que ele é o profissional ideal para realizar uma análise criteriosa e clínica. Além disso, só ele quem poderá indicar o melhor tratamento para você.

Suicídio é o ato de tirar a própria vida de propósito. O comportamento suicida pode variar desde pensamentos de se matar até realmente concluir o ato.

Uma pessoa que pensa ou fala sobre suicídio pode estar realmente considerando acabar com sua própria vida.

As pessoas que são mais propensas a cometer suicídio são: 

Homens brancos;

Pessoas com idades entre 15 a 24 anos ou maiores de 65 anos; 

Viver sozinho ou não ter filhos menores de 18 anos vivendo em casa; 

Passar por situações de grandes estresses na vida, como a morte de um ente querido, a perda de um emprego ou o divórcio.

Mais de 80% dos suicídios completos são de homens. No entanto, a maioria das pessoas que tentam cometer suicídio mas não morrem, são mulheres nas idades entre 25 e 44 anos. O suicídio é uma das principais causas de morte entre crianças de 10 a 19 anos.

Quais os sinais comuns nas pessoas que cometem o suicídio?

Os sintomas associados ao suicídio incluem: 

Sentimentos de desesperança;

Problemas de concentração 

Distúrbios do sono;

Dificuldade em encontrar felicidade em coisas que antes fariam a pessoa feliz;

Ansiedade severa, levando ao pânico; 

Declarações indicando desejo de cometer suicídio; 

Sentimentos deprimidos; 

Esforços repentinos direcionados a colocar a “vida em ordem”;

Mudança de hábitos, como alimentação ou hábitos de cuidados pessoais; 

Silêncio ou abstinência; 

Declarações verbais, como “Eu quero morrer” ou “Eu me pergunto o que eles vão fazer quando eu for embora”; 

Notas ruins ou mau desempenho no trabalho; 

Comportamento de risco.

 A maioria das pessoas com pensamentos suicidas viu seu médico nos últimos 6 meses.

Quais são as causas desse problema?

Os riscos para o suicídio variam muito. Um transtorno mental como depressão grave ou alcoolismo é um fator de risco comum.

Outros fatores de risco incluem: 

Tentativas de suicídio anteriores ou histórico familiar de tentativas de suicídio; 

Histórico de transtornos psiquiátricos. Isso pode incluir depressão grave, abuso de álcool ou drogas, esquizofrenia, transtornos de pânico e transtorno de personalidade limítrofe;

Comportamento antissocial, agressivo ou impulsivo, principalmente em adolescentes; 

Doença médica grave, como o câncer, acompanhada de doença psiquiátrica.

Uma combinação de fatores biológicos, emocionais, intelectuais e sociais desempenha um papel importante no risco de levar uma pessoa ao suicídio.

Fatores que podem contribuir para o risco suicida em adolescentes incluem: 

Tristeza;

Estresse; 

Baixo desempenho escolar; 

Pressão dos colegas, bullying;

Luto; 

Deficiência de aprendizagem; 

Doença ou deficiência física; 

Desejo de ser perfeito;

Falta de amigos; 

Dúvidas sobre identidade sexual.

Como é feita a prevenção ao suicídio?

A prevenção ao suicídio consiste em levar a sério as ameaças de suicídio de uma pessoa. Deve-se ficar atento aos sinais de que uma pessoa está planejando cometer suicídio. As etapas incluem: 

Ouvir atentamente a pessoa em risco; 

Oferecer uma conversa aberta e sem julgamentos;

Oferecer à pessoa uma solução positiva; 

Discutir opções para buscar ajuda; 

Oferecer apoio à pessoa em encontrar ajuda e tratamento.

Quais os tratamentos disponíveis para pessoas nessa condição?

Diversos fatores devem ser considerados ao elaborar um plano de tratamento para uma pessoa que tentou ou pode cometer suicídio. Estes incluem: 

Procurar saber se a pessoa tem acesso a armas de fogo, medicamentos ou outros métodos para realizar seu plano; 

Se a pessoa tem apoio social;

Se a pessoa tem controle sobre suas ações e julgamento.

Uma pessoa deve ser hospitalizada se tiver: 

Um plano suicida; 

Os meios para realizar o plano;

Má capacidade de controlar suas ações;

Falta de apoio social.

Em alguns casos, uma pessoa que tem um plano para cometer suicídio, mas não tem os meios, pode não precisar ser hospitalizada. Se a pessoa tiver boa saúde mental e bom apoio social, ela pode passar por uma nova avaliação para transtornos psiquiátricos e estresse. Também podem ser utilizados medicamentos antidepressivos, bem com a realização de terapia individual e a terapia familiar.

Uma pessoa que expressa pensamentos de suicídio, mas não tem um plano para cometê-lo, também deve passar por avaliação psiquiátrica. Medicamentos antidepressivos podem ser prescritos e podem ser utilizadas terapia individual, em grupo e/ou familiar.

Em alguns casos, os terapeutas recomendam programas especiais, que podem incluir programas para tratamento de alcoolismo ou abuso de drogas. Terapia eletroconvulsiva (ECT) também é indicada em alguns casos, principalmente quando os antidepressivos não são eficazes, ou quando há necessidade de uma forma mais rápida de tratamento.

Quais são os efeitos colaterais dos tratamentos?

Os efeitos colaterais dependem do tratamento utilizado. Os efeitos colaterais dos antidepressivos podem incluir perturbação estomacal, dificuldade para dormir, dor de cabeça e irritabilidade. Já no caso dos efeitos colaterais da ECT, pode ocorrer perda temporária de memória, dor muscular e dores de cabeça.

Como monitorar uma pessoa propensa ao suicídio?

É importante que a pessoa continue sendo acompanhada por um profissional, devendo relatar sempre que ocorrer novos pensamentos ou planos suicidas. A família pode ser solicitada a monitorar o humor e o comportamento da pessoa, relatando sua percepção do risco suicida da pessoa. A pessoa também deve receber um número de telefone de crise de 24 horas para ligar no caso de pensamentos ou planos suicidas.

Fique atento aos sinais

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The post Comportamento suicida: Saiba identificar first appeared on Francamente, César!.

Sugar seems to have developed a reputation as the big bad wolf in relation to health. We have reported on numerous studies associating sugar intake with increased aging, cardiovascular disease, obesity and even cancer. Such research has led to many health experts around the globe calling for reductions in recommended sugar intake, with some saying we should cut out sugar completely. But is it really that bad for our health?

“sugar is a crystalline carbohydrate that makes foods taste sweet”

There are many different types, including glucose, fructose, lactose, maltose and sucrose. Some of these sugars, such as glucose, fructose and lactose, occur naturally in fruits, vegetables and other foods. But many of the foods we consume contain “added” sugars – sugar that we add to a product ourselves to enhance the flavor or sugar that has been added to a product by a manufacturer.

Healty Low Sugar Shake

The most common sources of added sugars include soft drinks, cakes, pies, chocolate, fruit drinks and desserts. Just a single can of cola can contain up to 7 tsps of added sugar, while an average-sized chocolate bar can contain up to 6 tsps.

It is added sugars that have been cited as a contributor to many health problems. In December 2014, MNT reported on a study in the journal Open Heart claiming added sugars may increase the risk of high blood pressure, even more so than sodium. And in February 2014, a study led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) associated high added sugar intake with increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD).

“Perhaps most strongly, added sugars have been associated with the significant increase in obesity”

In the US, more than a third of adults are obese, while the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents over the past 30 years.

A 2013 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggested that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increases weight gain in both children and adults, while a review paper from the World Health Organization (WHO) notes an increase in the consumption of such beverages correlates with the increase in obesity. Are we becoming addicted to sugar?

High Sugar Chocolate Cookies

In support of these associations is Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of California-San Francisco and author of the book Fat Chance: The Hidden Truth About Sugar, who claims sugar is a “toxic” substance that we are becoming addicted to.

A 2008 study by researchers from Princeton University, NJ, found rats used to consuming a high-sugar diet displayed signs of binging, craving and withdrawal when their sugar intake was reduced. A woman tempted by chocolate Dr. Lustig: “We need to wean ourselves off. We need to de-sweeten our lives. We need to make sugar a treat, not a diet staple.”We need to wean ourselves off. We need to de-sweeten our lives.”

“We need to make sugar a treat, not a diet staple”

Dr. Lustig told The Guardian in 2013. “The food industry has made it into a diet staple because they know when they do you buy more,” he added. “This is their hook. If some unscrupulous cereal manufacturer went out and laced your breakfast cereal with morphine to get you to buy more, what would you think of that? They do it with sugar instead.”

In her popular blog, Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow cites sugar addiction as one of the reasons she decided to quit sugar completely.

“The bottom line is that sugar works the addiction and reward pathways in the brain in much the same way as many illegal drugs,” she writes. “Sugar is basically a socially acceptable, legal, recreational drug with deadly consequences.”

Bowl of Cereal and Forrest Fruits

Statistics show that we are certainly a nation of added-sugar lovers. According to a report from the CDC, adults in the US consumed around 13% of their total daily calorie intake from added sugars between 2005-2010, while 16% of children’s and adolescents’ total calorie intake came from added sugars between 2005-2008.

These levels are well above those currently recommended by WHO, which state we should consume no more than 10% of total daily calories from “free” sugars – both naturally occurring sugars and those that are added to products by the manufacturer.

In 2013, however, MNT reported on a study by Prof. Wayne Potts and colleagues from the University of Utah, claiming that even consuming added sugars at recommended levels may be harmful to health, after finding that such levels reduced lifespan in mice.

Is eliminating sugar from our diet THE healthy THING TO DO?

Healthy Low Carb Diet

The array of studies reporting the negative implications of added sugar led to WHO making a proposal to revise their added sugar recommendations in 2014. The organization issued a draft guideline stating they would like to halve their recommended daily free sugar intake from 10% to 5%.

“The objective of this guideline is to provide recommendations on the consumption of free sugars to reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases in adults and children,” WHO explained, “with a particular focus on the prevention and control of weight gain and dental caries.”

In addition, it seems many health experts, nutritionists and even celebrities like Gwyneth have jumped on a “no sugar” bandwagon.

But is it even possible to completely eliminate sugar from a diet? And is it safe? Biochemist Leah Fitzsimmons, of the University of Birmingham in the UK, told The Daily Mail:

“Cutting all sugar from your diet would be very difficult to achieve. Fruits, vegetables, dairy products and dairy replacements, eggs, alcohol and nuts all contain sugar, which would leave you with little other than meat and fats to eat – definitely not very healthy.”

Many people turn to artificial sweeteners as a sugar alternative, but according to studies, these sweeteners may still drive diabetes and obesity.

“Together with other major shifts that occurred in human nutrition, this increase in artificial sweetener consumption coincides with the dramatic increase in the obesity and diabetes epidemics,” the authors note. “Our findings suggest that artificial sweeteners may have directly contributed to enhancing the exact epidemic that they themselves were intended to fight.”

The post Many Cancer Therapies Suppress T Cell Immune Responses first appeared on Francamente, César!.

Sugar seems to have developed a reputation as the big bad wolf in relation to health. We have reported on numerous studies associating sugar intake with increased aging, cardiovascular disease, obesity and even cancer. Such research has led to many health experts around the globe calling for reductions in recommended sugar intake, with some saying we should cut out sugar completely. But is it really that bad for our health?

“sugar is a crystalline carbohydrate that makes foods taste sweet”

There are many different types, including glucose, fructose, lactose, maltose and sucrose. Some of these sugars, such as glucose, fructose and lactose, occur naturally in fruits, vegetables and other foods. But many of the foods we consume contain “added” sugars – sugar that we add to a product ourselves to enhance the flavor or sugar that has been added to a product by a manufacturer.

Healty Low Sugar Shake

The most common sources of added sugars include soft drinks, cakes, pies, chocolate, fruit drinks and desserts. Just a single can of cola can contain up to 7 tsps of added sugar, while an average-sized chocolate bar can contain up to 6 tsps.

It is added sugars that have been cited as a contributor to many health problems. In December 2014, MNT reported on a study in the journal Open Heart claiming added sugars may increase the risk of high blood pressure, even more so than sodium. And in February 2014, a study led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) associated high added sugar intake with increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD).

“Perhaps most strongly, added sugars have been associated with the significant increase in obesity”

In the US, more than a third of adults are obese, while the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents over the past 30 years.

A 2013 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggested that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increases weight gain in both children and adults, while a review paper from the World Health Organization (WHO) notes an increase in the consumption of such beverages correlates with the increase in obesity. Are we becoming addicted to sugar?

High Sugar Chocolate Cookies

In support of these associations is Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of California-San Francisco and author of the book Fat Chance: The Hidden Truth About Sugar, who claims sugar is a “toxic” substance that we are becoming addicted to.

A 2008 study by researchers from Princeton University, NJ, found rats used to consuming a high-sugar diet displayed signs of binging, craving and withdrawal when their sugar intake was reduced. A woman tempted by chocolate Dr. Lustig: “We need to wean ourselves off. We need to de-sweeten our lives. We need to make sugar a treat, not a diet staple.”We need to wean ourselves off. We need to de-sweeten our lives.”

“We need to make sugar a treat, not a diet staple”

Dr. Lustig told The Guardian in 2013. “The food industry has made it into a diet staple because they know when they do you buy more,” he added. “This is their hook. If some unscrupulous cereal manufacturer went out and laced your breakfast cereal with morphine to get you to buy more, what would you think of that? They do it with sugar instead.”

In her popular blog, Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow cites sugar addiction as one of the reasons she decided to quit sugar completely.

“The bottom line is that sugar works the addiction and reward pathways in the brain in much the same way as many illegal drugs,” she writes. “Sugar is basically a socially acceptable, legal, recreational drug with deadly consequences.”

Bowl of Cereal and Forrest Fruits

Statistics show that we are certainly a nation of added-sugar lovers. According to a report from the CDC, adults in the US consumed around 13% of their total daily calorie intake from added sugars between 2005-2010, while 16% of children’s and adolescents’ total calorie intake came from added sugars between 2005-2008.

These levels are well above those currently recommended by WHO, which state we should consume no more than 10% of total daily calories from “free” sugars – both naturally occurring sugars and those that are added to products by the manufacturer.

In 2013, however, MNT reported on a study by Prof. Wayne Potts and colleagues from the University of Utah, claiming that even consuming added sugars at recommended levels may be harmful to health, after finding that such levels reduced lifespan in mice.

Is eliminating sugar from our diet THE healthy THING TO DO?

Healthy Low Carb Diet

The array of studies reporting the negative implications of added sugar led to WHO making a proposal to revise their added sugar recommendations in 2014. The organization issued a draft guideline stating they would like to halve their recommended daily free sugar intake from 10% to 5%.

“The objective of this guideline is to provide recommendations on the consumption of free sugars to reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases in adults and children,” WHO explained, “with a particular focus on the prevention and control of weight gain and dental caries.”

In addition, it seems many health experts, nutritionists and even celebrities like Gwyneth have jumped on a “no sugar” bandwagon.

But is it even possible to completely eliminate sugar from a diet? And is it safe? Biochemist Leah Fitzsimmons, of the University of Birmingham in the UK, told The Daily Mail:

“Cutting all sugar from your diet would be very difficult to achieve. Fruits, vegetables, dairy products and dairy replacements, eggs, alcohol and nuts all contain sugar, which would leave you with little other than meat and fats to eat – definitely not very healthy.”

Many people turn to artificial sweeteners as a sugar alternative, but according to studies, these sweeteners may still drive diabetes and obesity.

“Together with other major shifts that occurred in human nutrition, this increase in artificial sweetener consumption coincides with the dramatic increase in the obesity and diabetes epidemics,” the authors note. “Our findings suggest that artificial sweeteners may have directly contributed to enhancing the exact epidemic that they themselves were intended to fight.”

The post How Cells Are Wired to Survive Radiation Therapy first appeared on Francamente, César!.

Sugar seems to have developed a reputation as the big bad wolf in relation to health. We have reported on numerous studies associating sugar intake with increased aging, cardiovascular disease, obesity and even cancer. Such research has led to many health experts around the globe calling for reductions in recommended sugar intake, with some saying we should cut out sugar completely. But is it really that bad for our health?

“sugar is a crystalline carbohydrate that makes foods taste sweet”

There are many different types, including glucose, fructose, lactose, maltose and sucrose. Some of these sugars, such as glucose, fructose and lactose, occur naturally in fruits, vegetables and other foods. But many of the foods we consume contain “added” sugars – sugar that we add to a product ourselves to enhance the flavor or sugar that has been added to a product by a manufacturer.

Healty Low Sugar Shake

The most common sources of added sugars include soft drinks, cakes, pies, chocolate, fruit drinks and desserts. Just a single can of cola can contain up to 7 tsps of added sugar, while an average-sized chocolate bar can contain up to 6 tsps.

It is added sugars that have been cited as a contributor to many health problems. In December 2014, MNT reported on a study in the journal Open Heart claiming added sugars may increase the risk of high blood pressure, even more so than sodium. And in February 2014, a study led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) associated high added sugar intake with increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD).

“Perhaps most strongly, added sugars have been associated with the significant increase in obesity”

In the US, more than a third of adults are obese, while the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents over the past 30 years.

A 2013 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggested that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increases weight gain in both children and adults, while a review paper from the World Health Organization (WHO) notes an increase in the consumption of such beverages correlates with the increase in obesity. Are we becoming addicted to sugar?

High Sugar Chocolate Cookies

In support of these associations is Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of California-San Francisco and author of the book Fat Chance: The Hidden Truth About Sugar, who claims sugar is a “toxic” substance that we are becoming addicted to.

A 2008 study by researchers from Princeton University, NJ, found rats used to consuming a high-sugar diet displayed signs of binging, craving and withdrawal when their sugar intake was reduced. A woman tempted by chocolate Dr. Lustig: “We need to wean ourselves off. We need to de-sweeten our lives. We need to make sugar a treat, not a diet staple.”We need to wean ourselves off. We need to de-sweeten our lives.”

“We need to make sugar a treat, not a diet staple”

Dr. Lustig told The Guardian in 2013. “The food industry has made it into a diet staple because they know when they do you buy more,” he added. “This is their hook. If some unscrupulous cereal manufacturer went out and laced your breakfast cereal with morphine to get you to buy more, what would you think of that? They do it with sugar instead.”

In her popular blog, Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow cites sugar addiction as one of the reasons she decided to quit sugar completely.

“The bottom line is that sugar works the addiction and reward pathways in the brain in much the same way as many illegal drugs,” she writes. “Sugar is basically a socially acceptable, legal, recreational drug with deadly consequences.”

Bowl of Cereal and Forrest Fruits

Statistics show that we are certainly a nation of added-sugar lovers. According to a report from the CDC, adults in the US consumed around 13% of their total daily calorie intake from added sugars between 2005-2010, while 16% of children’s and adolescents’ total calorie intake came from added sugars between 2005-2008.

These levels are well above those currently recommended by WHO, which state we should consume no more than 10% of total daily calories from “free” sugars – both naturally occurring sugars and those that are added to products by the manufacturer.

In 2013, however, MNT reported on a study by Prof. Wayne Potts and colleagues from the University of Utah, claiming that even consuming added sugars at recommended levels may be harmful to health, after finding that such levels reduced lifespan in mice.

Is eliminating sugar from our diet THE healthy THING TO DO?

Healthy Low Carb Diet

The array of studies reporting the negative implications of added sugar led to WHO making a proposal to revise their added sugar recommendations in 2014. The organization issued a draft guideline stating they would like to halve their recommended daily free sugar intake from 10% to 5%.

“The objective of this guideline is to provide recommendations on the consumption of free sugars to reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases in adults and children,” WHO explained, “with a particular focus on the prevention and control of weight gain and dental caries.”

In addition, it seems many health experts, nutritionists and even celebrities like Gwyneth have jumped on a “no sugar” bandwagon.

But is it even possible to completely eliminate sugar from a diet? And is it safe? Biochemist Leah Fitzsimmons, of the University of Birmingham in the UK, told The Daily Mail:

“Cutting all sugar from your diet would be very difficult to achieve. Fruits, vegetables, dairy products and dairy replacements, eggs, alcohol and nuts all contain sugar, which would leave you with little other than meat and fats to eat – definitely not very healthy.”

Many people turn to artificial sweeteners as a sugar alternative, but according to studies, these sweeteners may still drive diabetes and obesity.

“Together with other major shifts that occurred in human nutrition, this increase in artificial sweetener consumption coincides with the dramatic increase in the obesity and diabetes epidemics,” the authors note. “Our findings suggest that artificial sweeteners may have directly contributed to enhancing the exact epidemic that they themselves were intended to fight.”

The post Chemists Develop an Ultra-sensitive Test for Cancers first appeared on Francamente, César!.

Sugar seems to have developed a reputation as the big bad wolf in relation to health. We have reported on numerous studies associating sugar intake with increased aging, cardiovascular disease, obesity and even cancer. Such research has led to many health experts around the globe calling for reductions in recommended sugar intake, with some saying we should cut out sugar completely. But is it really that bad for our health?

“sugar is a crystalline carbohydrate that makes foods taste sweet”

There are many different types, including glucose, fructose, lactose, maltose and sucrose. Some of these sugars, such as glucose, fructose and lactose, occur naturally in fruits, vegetables and other foods. But many of the foods we consume contain “added” sugars – sugar that we add to a product ourselves to enhance the flavor or sugar that has been added to a product by a manufacturer.

Healty Low Sugar Shake

The most common sources of added sugars include soft drinks, cakes, pies, chocolate, fruit drinks and desserts. Just a single can of cola can contain up to 7 tsps of added sugar, while an average-sized chocolate bar can contain up to 6 tsps.

It is added sugars that have been cited as a contributor to many health problems. In December 2014, MNT reported on a study in the journal Open Heart claiming added sugars may increase the risk of high blood pressure, even more so than sodium. And in February 2014, a study led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) associated high added sugar intake with increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD).

“Perhaps most strongly, added sugars have been associated with the significant increase in obesity”

In the US, more than a third of adults are obese, while the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents over the past 30 years.

A 2013 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggested that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increases weight gain in both children and adults, while a review paper from the World Health Organization (WHO) notes an increase in the consumption of such beverages correlates with the increase in obesity. Are we becoming addicted to sugar?

High Sugar Chocolate Cookies

In support of these associations is Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of California-San Francisco and author of the book Fat Chance: The Hidden Truth About Sugar, who claims sugar is a “toxic” substance that we are becoming addicted to.

A 2008 study by researchers from Princeton University, NJ, found rats used to consuming a high-sugar diet displayed signs of binging, craving and withdrawal when their sugar intake was reduced. A woman tempted by chocolate Dr. Lustig: “We need to wean ourselves off. We need to de-sweeten our lives. We need to make sugar a treat, not a diet staple.”We need to wean ourselves off. We need to de-sweeten our lives.”

“We need to make sugar a treat, not a diet staple”

Dr. Lustig told The Guardian in 2013. “The food industry has made it into a diet staple because they know when they do you buy more,” he added. “This is their hook. If some unscrupulous cereal manufacturer went out and laced your breakfast cereal with morphine to get you to buy more, what would you think of that? They do it with sugar instead.”

In her popular blog, Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow cites sugar addiction as one of the reasons she decided to quit sugar completely.

“The bottom line is that sugar works the addiction and reward pathways in the brain in much the same way as many illegal drugs,” she writes. “Sugar is basically a socially acceptable, legal, recreational drug with deadly consequences.”

Bowl of Cereal and Forrest Fruits

Statistics show that we are certainly a nation of added-sugar lovers. According to a report from the CDC, adults in the US consumed around 13% of their total daily calorie intake from added sugars between 2005-2010, while 16% of children’s and adolescents’ total calorie intake came from added sugars between 2005-2008.

These levels are well above those currently recommended by WHO, which state we should consume no more than 10% of total daily calories from “free” sugars – both naturally occurring sugars and those that are added to products by the manufacturer.

In 2013, however, MNT reported on a study by Prof. Wayne Potts and colleagues from the University of Utah, claiming that even consuming added sugars at recommended levels may be harmful to health, after finding that such levels reduced lifespan in mice.

Is eliminating sugar from our diet THE healthy THING TO DO?

Healthy Low Carb Diet

The array of studies reporting the negative implications of added sugar led to WHO making a proposal to revise their added sugar recommendations in 2014. The organization issued a draft guideline stating they would like to halve their recommended daily free sugar intake from 10% to 5%.

“The objective of this guideline is to provide recommendations on the consumption of free sugars to reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases in adults and children,” WHO explained, “with a particular focus on the prevention and control of weight gain and dental caries.”

In addition, it seems many health experts, nutritionists and even celebrities like Gwyneth have jumped on a “no sugar” bandwagon.

But is it even possible to completely eliminate sugar from a diet? And is it safe? Biochemist Leah Fitzsimmons, of the University of Birmingham in the UK, told The Daily Mail:

“Cutting all sugar from your diet would be very difficult to achieve. Fruits, vegetables, dairy products and dairy replacements, eggs, alcohol and nuts all contain sugar, which would leave you with little other than meat and fats to eat – definitely not very healthy.”

Many people turn to artificial sweeteners as a sugar alternative, but according to studies, these sweeteners may still drive diabetes and obesity.

“Together with other major shifts that occurred in human nutrition, this increase in artificial sweetener consumption coincides with the dramatic increase in the obesity and diabetes epidemics,” the authors note. “Our findings suggest that artificial sweeteners may have directly contributed to enhancing the exact epidemic that they themselves were intended to fight.”

The post Treatment for Chronic Lymphatic Leukaemia to Replace Chemo first appeared on Francamente, César!.

Sugar seems to have developed a reputation as the big bad wolf in relation to health. We have reported on numerous studies associating sugar intake with increased aging, cardiovascular disease, obesity and even cancer. Such research has led to many health experts around the globe calling for reductions in recommended sugar intake, with some saying we should cut out sugar completely. But is it really that bad for our health?

“sugar is a crystalline carbohydrate that makes foods taste sweet”

There are many different types, including glucose, fructose, lactose, maltose and sucrose. Some of these sugars, such as glucose, fructose and lactose, occur naturally in fruits, vegetables and other foods. But many of the foods we consume contain “added” sugars – sugar that we add to a product ourselves to enhance the flavor or sugar that has been added to a product by a manufacturer.

Healty Low Sugar Shake

The most common sources of added sugars include soft drinks, cakes, pies, chocolate, fruit drinks and desserts. Just a single can of cola can contain up to 7 tsps of added sugar, while an average-sized chocolate bar can contain up to 6 tsps.

It is added sugars that have been cited as a contributor to many health problems. In December 2014, MNT reported on a study in the journal Open Heart claiming added sugars may increase the risk of high blood pressure, even more so than sodium. And in February 2014, a study led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) associated high added sugar intake with increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD).

“Perhaps most strongly, added sugars have been associated with the significant increase in obesity”

In the US, more than a third of adults are obese, while the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents over the past 30 years.

A 2013 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggested that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increases weight gain in both children and adults, while a review paper from the World Health Organization (WHO) notes an increase in the consumption of such beverages correlates with the increase in obesity. Are we becoming addicted to sugar?

High Sugar Chocolate Cookies

In support of these associations is Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of California-San Francisco and author of the book Fat Chance: The Hidden Truth About Sugar, who claims sugar is a “toxic” substance that we are becoming addicted to.

A 2008 study by researchers from Princeton University, NJ, found rats used to consuming a high-sugar diet displayed signs of binging, craving and withdrawal when their sugar intake was reduced. A woman tempted by chocolate Dr. Lustig: “We need to wean ourselves off. We need to de-sweeten our lives. We need to make sugar a treat, not a diet staple.”We need to wean ourselves off. We need to de-sweeten our lives.”

“We need to make sugar a treat, not a diet staple”

Dr. Lustig told The Guardian in 2013. “The food industry has made it into a diet staple because they know when they do you buy more,” he added. “This is their hook. If some unscrupulous cereal manufacturer went out and laced your breakfast cereal with morphine to get you to buy more, what would you think of that? They do it with sugar instead.”

In her popular blog, Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow cites sugar addiction as one of the reasons she decided to quit sugar completely.

“The bottom line is that sugar works the addiction and reward pathways in the brain in much the same way as many illegal drugs,” she writes. “Sugar is basically a socially acceptable, legal, recreational drug with deadly consequences.”

Bowl of Cereal and Forrest Fruits

Statistics show that we are certainly a nation of added-sugar lovers. According to a report from the CDC, adults in the US consumed around 13% of their total daily calorie intake from added sugars between 2005-2010, while 16% of children’s and adolescents’ total calorie intake came from added sugars between 2005-2008.

These levels are well above those currently recommended by WHO, which state we should consume no more than 10% of total daily calories from “free” sugars – both naturally occurring sugars and those that are added to products by the manufacturer.

In 2013, however, MNT reported on a study by Prof. Wayne Potts and colleagues from the University of Utah, claiming that even consuming added sugars at recommended levels may be harmful to health, after finding that such levels reduced lifespan in mice.

Is eliminating sugar from our diet THE healthy THING TO DO?

Healthy Low Carb Diet

The array of studies reporting the negative implications of added sugar led to WHO making a proposal to revise their added sugar recommendations in 2014. The organization issued a draft guideline stating they would like to halve their recommended daily free sugar intake from 10% to 5%.

“The objective of this guideline is to provide recommendations on the consumption of free sugars to reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases in adults and children,” WHO explained, “with a particular focus on the prevention and control of weight gain and dental caries.”

In addition, it seems many health experts, nutritionists and even celebrities like Gwyneth have jumped on a “no sugar” bandwagon.

But is it even possible to completely eliminate sugar from a diet? And is it safe? Biochemist Leah Fitzsimmons, of the University of Birmingham in the UK, told The Daily Mail:

“Cutting all sugar from your diet would be very difficult to achieve. Fruits, vegetables, dairy products and dairy replacements, eggs, alcohol and nuts all contain sugar, which would leave you with little other than meat and fats to eat – definitely not very healthy.”

Many people turn to artificial sweeteners as a sugar alternative, but according to studies, these sweeteners may still drive diabetes and obesity.

“Together with other major shifts that occurred in human nutrition, this increase in artificial sweetener consumption coincides with the dramatic increase in the obesity and diabetes epidemics,” the authors note. “Our findings suggest that artificial sweeteners may have directly contributed to enhancing the exact epidemic that they themselves were intended to fight.”

The post Stress Control May Enhance Cardiac Rehab and Improve Recovery first appeared on Francamente, César!.

Sugar seems to have developed a reputation as the big bad wolf in relation to health. We have reported on numerous studies associating sugar intake with increased aging, cardiovascular disease, obesity and even cancer. Such research has led to many health experts around the globe calling for reductions in recommended sugar intake, with some saying we should cut out sugar completely. But is it really that bad for our health?

“sugar is a crystalline carbohydrate that makes foods taste sweet”

There are many different types, including glucose, fructose, lactose, maltose and sucrose. Some of these sugars, such as glucose, fructose and lactose, occur naturally in fruits, vegetables and other foods. But many of the foods we consume contain “added” sugars – sugar that we add to a product ourselves to enhance the flavor or sugar that has been added to a product by a manufacturer.

Healty Low Sugar Shake

The most common sources of added sugars include soft drinks, cakes, pies, chocolate, fruit drinks and desserts. Just a single can of cola can contain up to 7 tsps of added sugar, while an average-sized chocolate bar can contain up to 6 tsps.

It is added sugars that have been cited as a contributor to many health problems. In December 2014, MNT reported on a study in the journal Open Heart claiming added sugars may increase the risk of high blood pressure, even more so than sodium. And in February 2014, a study led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) associated high added sugar intake with increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD).

“Perhaps most strongly, added sugars have been associated with the significant increase in obesity”

In the US, more than a third of adults are obese, while the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents over the past 30 years.

A 2013 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggested that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increases weight gain in both children and adults, while a review paper from the World Health Organization (WHO) notes an increase in the consumption of such beverages correlates with the increase in obesity. Are we becoming addicted to sugar?

High Sugar Chocolate Cookies

In support of these associations is Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of California-San Francisco and author of the book Fat Chance: The Hidden Truth About Sugar, who claims sugar is a “toxic” substance that we are becoming addicted to.

A 2008 study by researchers from Princeton University, NJ, found rats used to consuming a high-sugar diet displayed signs of binging, craving and withdrawal when their sugar intake was reduced. A woman tempted by chocolate Dr. Lustig: “We need to wean ourselves off. We need to de-sweeten our lives. We need to make sugar a treat, not a diet staple.”We need to wean ourselves off. We need to de-sweeten our lives.”

“We need to make sugar a treat, not a diet staple”

Dr. Lustig told The Guardian in 2013. “The food industry has made it into a diet staple because they know when they do you buy more,” he added. “This is their hook. If some unscrupulous cereal manufacturer went out and laced your breakfast cereal with morphine to get you to buy more, what would you think of that? They do it with sugar instead.”

In her popular blog, Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow cites sugar addiction as one of the reasons she decided to quit sugar completely.

“The bottom line is that sugar works the addiction and reward pathways in the brain in much the same way as many illegal drugs,” she writes. “Sugar is basically a socially acceptable, legal, recreational drug with deadly consequences.”

Bowl of Cereal and Forrest Fruits

Statistics show that we are certainly a nation of added-sugar lovers. According to a report from the CDC, adults in the US consumed around 13% of their total daily calorie intake from added sugars between 2005-2010, while 16% of children’s and adolescents’ total calorie intake came from added sugars between 2005-2008.

These levels are well above those currently recommended by WHO, which state we should consume no more than 10% of total daily calories from “free” sugars – both naturally occurring sugars and those that are added to products by the manufacturer.

In 2013, however, MNT reported on a study by Prof. Wayne Potts and colleagues from the University of Utah, claiming that even consuming added sugars at recommended levels may be harmful to health, after finding that such levels reduced lifespan in mice.

Is eliminating sugar from our diet THE healthy THING TO DO?

Healthy Low Carb Diet

The array of studies reporting the negative implications of added sugar led to WHO making a proposal to revise their added sugar recommendations in 2014. The organization issued a draft guideline stating they would like to halve their recommended daily free sugar intake from 10% to 5%.

“The objective of this guideline is to provide recommendations on the consumption of free sugars to reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases in adults and children,” WHO explained, “with a particular focus on the prevention and control of weight gain and dental caries.”

In addition, it seems many health experts, nutritionists and even celebrities like Gwyneth have jumped on a “no sugar” bandwagon.

But is it even possible to completely eliminate sugar from a diet? And is it safe? Biochemist Leah Fitzsimmons, of the University of Birmingham in the UK, told The Daily Mail:

“Cutting all sugar from your diet would be very difficult to achieve. Fruits, vegetables, dairy products and dairy replacements, eggs, alcohol and nuts all contain sugar, which would leave you with little other than meat and fats to eat – definitely not very healthy.”

Many people turn to artificial sweeteners as a sugar alternative, but according to studies, these sweeteners may still drive diabetes and obesity.

“Together with other major shifts that occurred in human nutrition, this increase in artificial sweetener consumption coincides with the dramatic increase in the obesity and diabetes epidemics,” the authors note. “Our findings suggest that artificial sweeteners may have directly contributed to enhancing the exact epidemic that they themselves were intended to fight.”

The post High Cholesterol is a Very Common Condition first appeared on Francamente, César!.