93 Thousand Nigerians Die Annually From Firewood Smoke - ICEED

International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development (ICEED) has disclosed that 93,000 Nigerians die annually as a result of smoke inhaled while cooking with firewood, with women and children as the most affected persons. ICEED’s Executive Director in Nigeria, Mr. Ewah Otu Eleri revealed that a 2012 study report of the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed that deaths from firewood smoke is the third highest killer in the country after malaria (225,000) and HIV (192,000). He attributed the ugly trend to lack of access to cooking gas and kerosene.

His words: “It is shocking and regrettable that 56 percent of households in Nigerian urban cities still use firewood to cook. In Ebonyi, only 12 percent of households have access to kerosene while only 6.1 of the entire population of Lagos State use Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for cooking. About 30 million households depend solely on wood as a source of fuel for their daily cooking.”

Otu Eleri further stated that in a bid to reduce drastically this alarming number of deaths being recorded annually in the country, ICEED in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) came up with Energy Efficient Woodstoves Project in Nigeria with the aim of providing efficient energy woodstoves to Nigerian households. The aim of the organization is to achieve better respiratory health, create new jobs from stove production, distribution and retailing in the country, empower women by building stove sale networks and support the country to develop sustainable cooking energy policy frameworks.

No doubt, firewood smoke is hazardous to the health of women, and the point must be made that most people especially in the rural areas make use of firewood to cook because they do not have any other alternative. Unfortunately most of them are oblivious of the risk firewood smoke poses to their health. It is important to note that, numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to a variety of problems.

These include increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing, or difficulty breathing, decreased lung function, aggravated asthma, development of chronic bronchitis, irregular heartbeat, nonfatal heart attacks and premature death in people with heart or lung disease. Furthermore, although wood smoke conjures up fond memories of sitting by a cozy fire, it is important to know that the components of wood smoke and cigarette smoke are quite similar, and that many components of both are carcinogenic.

Wood smoke contains fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide and various irritant gases such as nitrogen oxides that can scar the lungs. Wood smoke also contains chemicals known or suspected to be carcinogens, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dioxin. Also, wood smoke interferes with normal lung development in infants and children. It also increases children’s risk of lower respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Again, wood smoke exposure can depress the immune system and damage the layer of cells in the lungs that protect and cleanse the airways.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), toxic air pollutants are components of wood smoke. Wood smoke can cause cough, headache, eye and throat irritation in otherwise healthy people. For vulnerable populations, such as people with asthma, chronic respiratory disease and those with cardiovascular disease, wood smoke is particularly harmful— even short exposures can prove dangerous. The particles of wood smoke are extremely small and therefore are not filtered out by the nose or the upper respiratory system.

Instead, these small particles end up deep in the lungs where they remain for months, causing structural damage and chemical changes. Wood smoke’s carcinogenic chemicals adhere to these tiny particles, which enter deep into the lungs. Recent studies show that fine particles that go deep into the lungs increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. EPA warns that for people with heart disease, short- term exposures have been linked to heart attacks and arrhythmia.

If you have heart disease, these tiny particles may cause you to experience chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue. It, therefore, behooves the government to act decisively to halt the menacing spread and adverse consequences of firewood smoke in the country. Besides the serious health hazards, it also contributes to deforestation and desertification. Nigeria is an oil-producing country and a leading member of OPEC, therefore, making kerosene available in all the nooks and crannies of the country at affordable price should be a difficult task to accomplish.

Perhaps, if the four refineries in the country are functioning at optimum capacity, it would be easier to do, but the oil import dependency is a bulwark against eliminating firewood smoke swiftly. It is evidently clear that firewood smoke is very dangerous but much has not been said about it. It is time to drastically reduce the use of firewood to the barest minimum for the sake of the health of the citizenry and the protection of the environment.

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The Fundamentals Of Keto Diets (1)

The keto diet has one goal: get the body producing ketones. From this, all the health benefits you've heard of - from weight loss to performance - trickle down. The question is...how do you get your body to begin producing ketones?

First, let's talk basics. Ketones are a fundamentally different energy source than the carbohydrates and fats your cells typically use for energy. It can take several days (or weeks!) of ketogenic, low-carb, high-fat eating before the body starts to produce ketones. And the time it takes to get into ketosis varies between individuals.

“Keto” comes from the word “ketogenic.” This is a scientific term meaning that the body is producing ketones from fat.¹ When blood ketone levels exceed 0.5mM, the body has achieved "ketosis." Ketosis can be naturally achieved two ways: through diet or fasting (meaning the body is producing its own ketones), or also by consuming products that raise blood ketone levels (like HVMN Ketone or ketone salts or MCT oils). Ketosis and ketogenic are two different things; a body in ketosis doesn't mean that body is ketogenic.
Ketogenic means the body is producing its own ketones, which must happen through diet or fasting.

This body is in ketosis because blood ketone levels are over 0.5mM. Someone else may consume ketones through an external means (called exogenous ketones). This body is also in ketosis because its blood levels are over 0.5mM, but it's not ketogenic—because it's not producing its own ketones. Simple enough, right?
Now that you know how to get your body into ketosis (through a low-carb diet / fasting or by taking a ketone supplement), let's explore the different ranges of ketosis and how to start a ketogenic diet.

Ways to Achieve Ketosis

As with all metabolic processes, the state of ketosis is a spectrum. Past a threshold (which varies from person to person), even a small increase in dietary carbohydrate intake can trigger enough insulin release to take the body out of ketosis.
General target blood ketones levels are as follows:

• No ketosis: under 0.5 mM BHB in blood
• Low ketosis: 0.5 - 1.5 mM BHB in blood
• Moderate ketosis: 1.5 - 3 mM BHB in blood
• High ketosis: over 3 mM BHB in blood
• Pathological ketosis: over 15 mM BHB in blood

Let's explore how the body achieves ketosis.

Physiological Ketosis

The typical methods used to generate physiological levels of ketosis are fasting, the ketogenic diet, and consuming exogenous ketones like HVMN Ketone.
After an overnight fast, a low amount of ketones (0.1mM - 0.2mM) can often be detected in the blood. As the time spent fasting increases, blood ketone levels slowly rise until a plateau at 8mM - 10mM of beta-hydroxybutyrate (or BHB, the predominant ketone body in the blood) has been reached after many days. Scientist Hans Krebs described this plateau as "physiological ketosis."
Fasting long-term is unsustainable, so following a strict ketogenic diet can be used to maintain a low level of continuous ketosis. Research suggests blood BHB levels between 0.4mM - 1mM can be achieved while following a ketogenic diet. Anecdotal evidence suggests it’s sometimes possible to reach higher levels. 

Using exogenous ketones can raise blood ketones to a physiological level without the ketogenic diet or fasting.

The level of ketosis reached depends on the exogenous ketone supplement used. Reported levels range from 0.6mM with a ketone salt or a medium-chain triglyceride supplement, and up to 6mM with HVMN Ketone.

The level of ketosis required for different physiological benefits is unknown. For endurance sports, a higher level of ketosis (>2mM) appears to be superior to lower levels. This is possible because ketones fuel athletes' muscles during a workout. However, some other benefits of ketosis, such as reduced appetite may be seen at much lower levels (0.5mM).

Pathological Ketosis

Sometimes, the body starts producing ketones as a result of a disease (pathology). This can lead to dangerous levels of ketones in the body, though these high levels are very uncommon in healthy people following the ketogenic diet.

Alcoholic ketoacidosis (AKA) is a result of chronic alcohol consumption usually accompanied by malnutrition. AKA is characterized by increased ketone production (levels > 15mM) via liver alcohol metabolism, in conjunction with a mild elevation in blood glucose levels. Symptoms include nausea and vomiting, fatigue, altered breathing, and abdominal pain.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) occurs most frequently in patients with type 1 diabetes. DKA is the simultaneous occurrence of high blood ketones (> 20mM), high blood glucose, and acidification of the blood. It develops when insulin is absent, or insulin signaling is no longer functional. This means the physiological state of starvation is triggered, even in the presence of high blood glucose. As during starvation, lipolysis (fat release) increases. This causes the liver to produce a high amount of ketones and blood pH to fall (as ketones are an organic acid).

As glucose levels are very high, the excess is excreted in the urine. This draws water and electrolytes out of the body, causing dangerous dehydration. Symptoms of DKA include nausea, vomiting, altered breathing, abdominal pain, and unconsciousness. The rapid onset and alarming nature of DKA is a reason why ketosis has a bad stigma in the medical community.

You may be doing keto wrong.

There's a ton of misinformation out there about the keto diet. We're on top of the scientific literature. Be the first to read our commentary on the research by subscribing.

Starting a Ketogenic Diet

The keto diet is a moderate-protein, low-carb, high-fat diet. Its goal is to get the body to produce ketones, which are then used an fuel source for both the brain and the body. But because it's low-carb, high-fat, the keto diet often gets confused with other diets out there.

What Makes Keto Unique?

Just because a diet is low carb doesn’t mean it’s keto. The subtle differences in macronutrients on keto make it unique (more on these later). Keto isn't Atkins. Keto isn't paleo. Keto isn't high protein.

High fat intake is often a concern on keto because, for years, a low-fat diet was equated with fat loss. In Dr. Atkins' 1972 book, "Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution," he began to reshape how we think about fat.

The pendulum of public perception continued to swing in favor of diets higher in fat, thanks to the emergence of influential writers and speakers such as Gary Taubes, Robert Lustig, and Nina Teicholtz, and clinicians and scientists such as Professor Tim Noakes, Dr. Jason Fung, and Professor Thomas Seyfried. The fear of fat has only kept decreasing.
Usually, keto is confused with Atkins. On Atkins, the initial aim is to restrict the carbohydrate intake to less than 20g per day. This degree of restriction is likely to lead to ketosis, although this is not an explicit aim. Then, the diet reintroduces carbohydrates to a level “the body can tolerate.”⁹ There's also less restriction on protein compared to a true ketogenic diet: high fat, moderate protein, low carbohydrate.

Tips for Starting a Keto Diet

Don’t try to start the diet gradually. If carbohydrate intake is moderately-low, blood sugar levels may not be enough to fuel the brain, and the presence of carbohydrate in the diet might still be enough to stop the body from making ketones.
The main objective when starting the ketogenic diet is to restrict carbohydrates to 20 digestible grams per day or less (this is what's considered a strict ketogenic diet) and consume fat until you're satiated. Remember to consume plenty of fiber as well. And regarding protein: stay at or below 0.45 grams of protein per day, per lb of body weight (1g/kg). If your goal is to lose weight, aim for 1 gram of protein per kg of your target weight.
Here are a few tips for when you're starting keto:

• Make a keto meal plan. It’s a good idea to establish an eating plan before starting the diet. Make a shopping trip to stock up on a range of foods that are low in carbohydrates and high in fat
• Use an app to track macronutrient intake. Apps such as MyFitnessPal are great to get an idea of the macronutrients in common foods. There is also a range of special online keto diet calculators
• Search for a few keto recipes to adapt cooking methods. Due to the high-fat consumption required to get into ketosis, it may be beneficial to change daily staples or cooking methods. You could increase your intake of tasty foods such as coconut oil, heavy cream, and cheese
• Make an approved list of keto diet foods and eliminate carbohydrate-rich foods. It will be easier to follow the diet by throwing out any foods to avoid. It’s recommended to check the labels for hidden added sugars
• Consider starting a ketogenic diet with a short period (16-36 hours) of fasting (consuming zero calories). Fasting depletes carbohydrate stores and can accelerate ketone production. Click here to read more about fasting protocols
• Gentle cardio exercise (~30 minutes) or some short high-intensity intervals (10-second sprints) can deplete carbohydrate stores and speed up ketone production

Keto Diet for Weight Loss

The ketogenic diet can be used to help with weight loss.
Recently, the number of positive keto diet reviews, and small-scale science studies has increased. The rising popularity of the diet has led to a demand for further randomized control trials to study its long-term efficacy. A key reason why the ketogenic diet helps weight loss is that it decreases hunger. This makes it easier to maintain a calorie deficit. It is important to stress that the overconsumption of calories will generally prevent weight loss, regardless of the macronutrient composition.

Cyclical Ketogenic Diet and Cheating on Keto

At the moment, there is not a clear answer as to whether the benefits of the ketogenic diet can be achieved by cycling on and off the diet. It’s best to stick to the diet for one or two months minimum to see benefits. It can take several days to get into ketosis¹ and 3-6 weeks to become “fat adapted.”

Some research indicates ~40 days on the ketogenic diet interspersed with periods of healthy eating with more carbohydrates (Mediterranean diet) could maintain weight loss.

“Cheating,” and consuming high-carbohydrate food, quickly stops ketone production by the liver. It can then take a considerable amount of time for the body to get back into ketosis. Time taken to get back into ketosis will depend on many factors including, the amount of carbohydrates consumed, how adapted the body is to produce ketones, activity level, etc.

However, cyclical ketogenic diets are a promising area of scientific investigation. Recently, scientists studied the effect of long-term cycling of the ketogenic diet (one week on, one week off the diet) compared to a normal diet in mice. Cyclical keto dieting reduced mid-life mortality and increased health-span.

Measuring Ketone Levels

An essential, objective way to see if you're in ketosis is to measure. There are three main ways to test for ketones—in the blood, in the breath and in the urine—each with its own benefits and considerations. The most accurate? Measure levels of BHB in the blood. You can dive into our analysis of all three methods here.

Macronutrient Composition for Keto Diet Success

A balanced macronutrient intake is essential for success on the keto diet. Macronutrients are food groups humans consume in large quantities. They provide the bulk of the energy to the body.

The primary macronutrients are carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

The macronutrient composition of a diet can be described using the mass of each macronutrient, the ratio of macronutrients in the diet, or the percentage of each macronutrient in the diet. The variety of descriptions can make things a little confusing.
For example:

• A ketogenic diet contains about 5% of energy as carbohydrates. 
• A ketogenic diet has a ratio of 2g - 4g of fat to every 1g of carbohydrates plus proteins.
• A classical ketogenic diet contains 20g - 30g of carbohydrate per day

Here are some examples macronutrients based on foods you might eat every day. Carbohydrates: bread, pasta, potatoes, cereals, sugary food (sweets). Fat: oils (olive oil, coconut oil), butter, fatty cuts of meat, brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, avocado. Protein: beef, chicken, pork, fish, milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs.

Carbohydrates

The main function of dietary carbohydrates is to be a source of energy. Some say that dietary carbohydrates are not essential, as they can be made from dietary protein and fat.

Carbohydrates are biological molecules that contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, usually with a 2:1 ratio of hydrogen:oxygen. Carbohydrates occur as a collection of single units (monosaccharides, e.g. glucose), two molecules joined (disaccharides, e.g. sucrose), and chains of molecules (oligosaccharides and polysaccharides).


When following a ketogenic diet, carb intake should be very low.
This contrasts with the modern western diet (how many Americans eat), which is high-carb: most dietary calories come from carbohydrates (and often, processed foods). Consuming carbohydrates causes insulin release (leading to higher insulin levels), which inhibits ketone production in the liver and thus ketosis. Therefore, monitoring and modulating your carbohydrate intake is an important part of following the ketogenic diet.

Dietary carbohydrates replenish the stores in muscle and liver (glycogen). They also maintain blood glucose concentrations to provide fuel for the whole body—but most importantly for the brain. Blood glucose is easy to measure using a handheld blood glucose monitor. Normal blood glucose levels fluctuate throughout the day and vary between individuals.
Ranges of Blood Glucose levels for clinical diagnosis are as follows:

• Fasting: healthy = 4mM - 6 mM / 70mgDl - 110 mgDl
• Fasting: diabetic = ~ 7 mM / 125 mgDl
• 90 minutes post-meal: healthy = < 8 mM / 140 mgDl
• 90 minutes post-meal: diabetics =  > 11 mM/ 200 mgDl

When you’re following the ketogenic diet, key concepts are the total amount of carbohydrates, the net amount of carbohydrates (accounting for the accompanying fiber), and the speed with which carbohydrates raise blood glucose (glycemic index). With a standard ketogenic diet, it’s recommended to keep the total amount of carbohydrates limited to less than 5% of energy intake.

Dietary fiber is carbohydrate-based material from plants that is not entirely broken down by the small intestine. Instead, it passes to the large intestine, and either undergoes fermentation (which supports the growth of beneficial bacteria), or excretion.

Fiber is a significant part of a well-formulated ketogenic diet. It helps to maintain gut health, and also increases food bulk and helps with the feeling of fullness. Green and cruciferous vegetables are rich in fiber and are helpful to include in a ketogenic diet.

Depending on how complex the source of fiber is, it has different assumed caloric values. One approach is to treat fiber as having the same amount of calories per gram as carbohydrates: 4 kCal/gram. However, as a proportion of fiber is not digested, other approaches use a lower value of 2 kCal/g. Digestion-resistant fiber does not contribute to calorie intake, as it is not broken down.

Net carbs refer to the mass of total carbohydrates, minus the total fiber, which could be a better metric to judge carbohydrate intake because:

• Fiber is mostly digestion-resistant and so should not increase blood glucose.
• Studies have shown an increase in fiber does not affect blood ketone levels.

The ‘glycemic index’ is a scale that ranges between 1 and 100, and it indicates how quickly food raises blood glucose after consumption. Pure glucose is the reference and is set at 100 (meaning, raises blood glucose quickly). Other foods have a comparatively lower value as they raise blood glucose more slowly. Example values for the glycemic index of food are white potato (~80), white bread (~75), apple (~35) and peanuts (~15).
Glycemic load accounts for both the speed of carbohydrate release and the total amount of carbohydrates in food. Food can have a relatively high glycemic index (i.e. carrot = 47) but because the total carbohydrate amount is low (carrot = 5g per serving), the glycemic load of one serving is very low.

Protein

Proteins are large molecules composed of chains of amino acids. The functions of dietary protein are:

• Building structural and functional components of cells
• Conversion to glucose via gluconeogenesis
• Top up intermediates in other metabolic pathways, such as the Krebs Cycle

While it's possible for a protein to be used as a fuel, this isn’t its primary function.
When following a ketogenic diet, there must be a balance of sufficient protein to maintain muscle mass. If dietary protein exceeds 20% - 25% of calories, gluconeogenesis from protein can stop ketone production. Initially, target a protein intake of 0.8g - 1.2g per kilogram of body weight. This target balances the need for protein against the chance of excess gluconeogenesis.
Some individuals (such as strength or endurance athletes) may have higher protein requirements. They might require a modified ketogenic macronutrient ratio of 2:1 fat: non-fat (where 65% of energy is fat, 30% is protein, and 5% carbohydrate) and can still be effective for therapeutic ketosis.

Fats

Fat gets a bad rap. In nutrition, fat is the dietary macronutrient made up of triglyceride molecules. The main functions of fats in the diet are to provide increased energy levels and makeup key functional and structural parts of the human system.
But we often misuse the word “fat.” There’s a difference between fat in cells and different types of fat molecules:

• Adipose tissue: the tissue that stores energy as fats/lipid droplets inside adipocytes (fat cells). This is body fat.
• Adipocytes: individual cells that store fats/lipids
• Lipids: the most general term forinsoluble and polar biological fat molecules. The lipid class of molecules includes mono-, di- and triglycerols, cholesterols, and phospholipids
• Triglycerides: a lipid molecule made up of glycerol (that acts as a backbone) joined to three fatty acid molecules
• Fatty acids: a molecule composed of a chain of carbon atoms bonded to one another with a carboxylic acid at one end

To be specific, our diet includes many sources of lipids.
Lipids are digested and travel in the blood as triglycerides and fatty acids before being used as a fuel, or stored by adipocytes in adipose tissue. Dietary lipids undergo many tightly regulated metabolic steps before storage in adipose tissue. Dietary fat does not equal stored body fat.
Triglycerides are the most important source of energy in a ketogenic diet. They account for > 70% of dietary calories. For those following a ketogenic diet, it’s helpful to understand how the lipid source in the diet is processed in the body.
Fatty acids can be saturated (no double bonds between carbons), or unsaturated (one or more double bonds between carbons).

Saturated fats are relatively stable and tend to be solid at room temperature (i.e. lard, butter, coconut oil). Historical guidelines recommended limited the intake of dietary saturated fats because fat consumption was thought to be associated with heart disease and high blood pressure. However, emerging research has shown saturated fat can have beneficial effects on blood biomarkers (i.e. increase healthy HDL cholesterol levels).

Unsaturated fatty acids can be further divided into monounsaturated fats (only one double bond between carbons) and polyunsaturated fats (multiple double bonds between carbons). The number of double bonds is important as it determines how the fatty acid behaves both inside and outside of the body.

They tend to be liquid at room temperature (i.e. vegetable-based fats such as olive oil). Unsaturated fats are thought of as healthier than saturated fats (also known as “healthy fats”). Increased consumption of mono- and polyunsaturated fats have been linked to improved blood biomarkers (i.e. lower blood triglycerides).

Eating enough unsaturated fats is important when following a ketogenic diet.
Increased fat consumption is not associated with cardiovascular disease. 

Eating a moderate amount of saturated fat is unlikely to be as harmful as previously believed, and saturated fat consumption as part of a ketogenic diet is unlikely to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Trans-fats are produced artificially when hydrogen is added to unsaturated fatty acids in order to solidify it and make it last longer. Because of associations with poor health outcomes, these artificial fats had their generally regarded as safe (GRAS) status removed in 2015 by the FDA. Avoid high levels of trans-fat consumption by eating a diet based around whole foods.

Essential fatty acids are important to include in the diet because the body cannot naturally produce them. This group includes poly-unsaturated omega 3, omega 6, and omega 9 fatty acids.

It’s believed the anti-inflammatory effects of essential fatty acids may have broad benefits for health and performance. Oily fish, such as sardines and mackerel, and seeds (i.e. flax) are good dietary sources of essential fatty acids. If you don't get enough of these in your diet you can take a supplement that includes fish oil, such as Kado, from HVMN.

The number of carbons in the fatty acid chain also has an important effect on its metabolism. The carbon chain of fatty acids can be up to 28 carbons atoms long. If there are > 13 carbons in the fatty acid, it is called a long-chain fatty acid, between 8-12 is a medium-chain fatty acid, and under 5 carbons is a short-chain fatty acid.

The body metabolizes fats differently according to chain length. Long-chain fatty acids are absorbed and go from the gut into the lymphatic drainage system and from there are released directly into the blood.

By comparison, medium- and short-chain fatty acids do not go into the lymphatic system. They travel in the blood from the gut directly to the liver. If a large amount of these short- and medium-chain fats are delivered to the liver at once, this can trigger the liver to convert them into ketones, even without dietary carbohydrate restriction.

Medium-chain fatty acids are highly ketogenic. They can be found in natural sources such as coconut oil or in an artificially purified form. However, for many people, consuming a high amount of medium-chain fatty acids can cause an upset stomach. This limits their use to raise ketones artificially.

When integrating these concepts into a ketogenic diet: target the majority of dietary calories as fat. Aim to include a variety of fats from different animal and plant sources (i.e. red meat, poultry, fish, dairy, olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, and avocados).

(To be continued next week)

This article is from HVMN, an organization that researches and presents articles discussing health, nutrition and diet, among other topics related to human optimization.

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Six Health And Beauty Benefits Of Red Wine

Brace yourself. The facts are out and the jury is in: wine is good for more than just your taste buds —a lot more! Drinking your favorite wines can benefit your health and beauty in the following ways:

1. Red Wine = Sleep

Red wine contains melatonin which helps with sleep. Well rested bodies shine the best. So slumber on, betches!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2. Antioxidants, Baby

The antioxidants found in red wine work to protect your skin from aging. So slurp that wine and wrinkles be gone.

3. Blushing

A few drops of red wine on each cheek will give you rosy pink cheeks perfect for a night on the town! Just don’t forget to blend.

4. Acne Repellent

Red wine is full of antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Applying red wine to your face will fight acne, as well as prevent outbreaks. It’s hard to waste wine on your skin —we know! But, the results will be so worth it!

5. Lather, Rinse, and Wine

Next time you hop in the shower use your shampoo and conditioner like usual, and then use red wine as a final rinse. I know more red going down the drain is depressing, but bear with us… Your hair will look lustrous and healthy as ever!

6. Just Half a Glass

A daily half glass of red wine increases circulation to the scalp. This prevents dryness, dandruff and itchiness. What better reason is there to cheers?

Basically there is now more proof than ever that we deserve to bath in tubs of red wine like the goddesses we are!

This article is from IloveWine, an organization that aspires to share insight and experiences with wine lovers of all kinds.

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Pumped Breast Milk May Cause Asthma For Babies – Research

Researchers have said that indirect breastfeeding, using pumps to extract milk from the breasts, could expose babies to potential pathogens that increase the risk of asthma and other respiratory infections. 

According to the findings of a new study published in the journal ‘Cell Host & Microbe’, the milk microbiota was affected by bacteria both from the infant’s mouth and from environmental sources such as breast pumps.

The study showed that using pumped milk was associated with the depletion of oral bacteria and a higher abundance of potential pathogens compared with direct breastfeeding at the breast.

A breast pump is a mechanical device that lactating women use to extract milk from their breasts. Many mothers use these breast pumps to continue breastfeeding after they return to work. It is also used to address a range of challenges parents may encounter breast feeding. 

A researcher at the University of Manitoba in Canada, Meghan Azad, said: “To our knowledge, this is among the largest studies of human milk microbiota performed to date. 

“This study considerably expands our understanding of the human milk microbiota and the factors that might influence it. The results will inspire new research about breastfeeding and human milk, especially related to pumping,” said Azad.

The researchers carried out bacterial gene sequencing on milk samples from 393 healthy mothers, three to four months after giving birth. Using this information, they examined how the milk microbiota composition was affected by maternal factors, early life events, breastfeeding practices, and other milk components and found that indirect breastfeeding was associated with a higher abundance of potential opportunistic pathogens, such as Stenotrophomonas and Pseudomonadaceae. 

Similarly, increased exposure to potential pathogens in breast milk could pose a risk of respiratory infection in the infant, potentially explaining why infants fed on pumped milk were at increased risk for paediatric asthma compared to those fed exclusively at the breast.

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Acne Scars: Causes And Treatment

Are you one of those haunted by the fear of acne? The following article, sent in by Penelope Andersan gives deep insights into the nature of acne and how to bring it under control. 

As if breakouts weren't bad enough, acne scars can haunt you your entire life. We spoke to West Hollywood plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai, MD to get his expert advice on the best ways to treat them and leave acne in your past.

Acne scars and marks come in many forms, but the one thing they have in common is that they are long-lasting. Fortunately, most acne scars and marks can be effectively treated with some TLC and a little help from your doctor. We spoke to West Hollywood plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai, MD to get his expert advice on the best ways to treat them and leave acne in your past.

What Causes Acne Scars and Marks?

Simply put, acne scars and marks are caused by pimples that did not heal properly, whether from picking, popping or not treating them properly. Remember how your mom told you to not pick your zits? Now you know why! However, even followed every rule in the book, you can still find yourself with marks and scarring later on. Genetics play a huge role in acne aftermath, which makes it hard to determine why one person has scars and another person does not. The best way to avoid damage in the future is to take extra precautions when caring for the surface of the skin. Choose a skin care routine that uses doctor recommended products, avoid excess sun exposure and always remember to resist the urge to pick and pop blemishes.

The Difference Between Acne Marks and Scars

Unlike acne scars, acne marks are smooth to the touch and dark marks or pigmentation of the skin. When a pimple is healing, inflammation can produce excess pigmentation which can leave behind a dark spot or stain. While they can look daunting, according to Dr. Tsai, acne marks are much easier to treat than acne scars because there is no collagen damage to the skin. They may not look pretty, but they usually fade away over a few months, depending on the person and the treatment. There are several common and effective treatments available, according to Dr. Tsai.

Sunblock: While sunscreen should be a part of everyone’s daily skin care routine, it is critical for acne sufferers. Excessive sun exposure can worsen pimple breakouts, prolong acne marks, and even make acne marks more prominent by darkening the pigmentation. Wear sunscreen every day, year round, and even inside and on cloudy days. Look for zinc-based products and acne-friendly brands, like COOLA or Farmacy.

Chemical Peels: A treatment designed to improve skin texture, chemical peels work by removing the top layer of skin cells, which increases skin cell turnover. This process helps remove dead skin on the surface of the skin and addresses hyper pigmentation that can be caused by acne flares. There are quite a number of chemical peel products, ranging from at-home to in-clinic and low to high strength, so always consult with a board certified dermatologist on which chemical peel, if any, is right for you and your skin type.

Laser Resurfacing Treatments: “Lasers like an IPL (Intense Pulse Light) are effective in removing darker pigmentation quicker,” Dr. Roger Tsai recommends. Fractional resurfacing lasers, like FRAXEL, and picosecond lasers, like PicoSure, have also been proven to help with skin texture issues including dark marks.

Topical Serums/Creams: One popular topical solution is Vitamin C serum, which uses powerful antioxidants to promote skin healing. Before applying the serum to your face, exfoliate first to aid absorption through the skin. Vitamin C serums have been shown to treat dark acne marks and offer anti-aging benefits to boot. Dr. Tsai also recommends skin exfoliation creams and retinoids, like Tretinoin, and skin brightening products, like Hydroquinone, to help quicken skin turn over for some patients. Retinoids can not only treat dark marks but also have been shown to prevent acne breakouts in the first place. and can be prescribed by a doctor or bought over-the-counter. Retinoid creams can be prescribed by a doctor or bought over the counter, but can be harsh on the skin. When using retinoids, always remember to stay out of the sun and wear sunscreen to prevent further skin damage.

Different Types of Acne Scars and Their Treatments

Acne scars are caused when the healing process replaces skin tissue with fibrous tissue instead. "Acne scars are actual indentations created from scar tissue that has grown into the empty space of the pimple and has created a contour deformity,” says Dr. Tsai. Sometimes the body can respond by producing too much of the fibrous tissue or not enough. When too much tissue is formed, the result is a raised keloid or hypertrophic scar. On the other hand, when not enough tissue is formed, the result is a depression in the skin, known as an atrophic scar. Because scars form for different reasons, there are different treatment protocols for each type. In general, compared to acne marks, acne scars are more permanent and harder to treat, although their appearance can be softened with certain acne treatments.

Ice Pick Scars

An ice pick scar is a type of atrophic or depressed scar that goes very deep into the skin. Like the name implies, ice pick scars resemble a puncture. Because they are so deep in the skin, ice pick scars are often thought to be the hardest of acne scars to correct.

Microneedling or CO2 Laser: When there are multiple ice pick scars, all-over treatments like microneedling or a CO2 Laser are suitable. These treatments work to build collagen and fill the depressions in from the inside out. Like most scar treatments, some can work better than others, depending on the skin tone and skin type.

Dermal Filler: Dermal filler can be an effective acne scar treatment option. Bellafill is commonly used to treat acne scarring and is injected underneath the surface of the scar to fill it out. The semi-permanent filler can last up to 18 months, which means multiple sessions are needed for upkeep.

Punch Excision: Correcting an ice pick scar through punch excision (also known as a punch biopsy or subcision) requires surgically removing or cutting it out. The surgeon will “punch” out the scar to create an opening that will allow extraction of the cyst or pore. After removal, the doctor will either stitch up the hole or use skin grafting (also known as punch grafting), which uses skin from another part of the body to fill the hole.

At-Home Solutions: For less invasive options, chemical peels and tretinoin cream can show improvements as with acne marks.

Boxcar Scars

Like icepick scars, boxcar scars are also atrophic acne scars, but they are different from ice pick scars because of their broader or boxier shape. Since boxcar scars are also a result of insufficient tissue formation, they are treated the same way as ice pick scars.

Microneedling or CO2 Lasers: CO2 lasers and microneedling are recommended to build new collagen and fill the boxcar scar depressions. According to Dr. Roger Tsai, a CO2 laser treatment is better suited for significant contour deformities whereas microneedling is better for mild to moderate skin irregularities.

Dermal Filler: For isolated boxcar scars, injectables like Bellafill can also help.

Rolling Scars

Rolling scars are shallower than ice pick scars and boxcar scars and have more of a “rolling hills" appearance, meaning they don't look like punctures. Treatment includes a combination of microfat injections and microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

Microfat Injections: Microfat injections, also known as microfat grafting, works by removing fat from another part of the body and then injected into another site (like the face in the case of rolling scars).

Microneedling: Microneedling stimulates new collagen production by pricking the skin to create tiny wounds. The body then naturally responds by making collagen to kickstart the healing process.

At-Home Solutions: Alternatively, less invasive options include chemical peels and tretinoin cream as with other forms of acne scars and marks.

Penelope Andersan is from the Content Partnerships Team of The AEDITION, an online publication created by new, aesthetic enhancement platform AEDIT. AEDIT is a next-generation, go-to source for anyone looking to continue or begin their medial aesthetic journey.

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Why You Should Drink That Glass Of Red Wine

Have you always considered yourself a white wine drinker? Maybe you only like the sparkling wine with bubbles? But have you ever given the red wine the real chance it deserves? If you haven’t, we have the top 10 reasons you should give red wine a chance.

What exactly is red wine?

You’ve seen the grape stomping and wine vineyards on television and movies, but do you really know how red wine is made? The coloring of any type of wine is created by the skins of the grape used. Red wine is made from the darkest colored grapes in the vineyards. The color variation of the red wines on shelves comes from how long the skins are left in the mixture during the winemaking process and fermentation. You may find a red wine that looks almost blackish in color all the way to bright red in color. The color is also determined by the maturity of the wine – darker colors are older wines and more purple colors are younger wines.

Some red wine grapes are used to make white wines. And you may find that some other types of wine such a Rose are created by mixing red and white wine together.

1. Drinking red wine is better than not drinking it at all!

Some non-wine drinkers (people who clearly aren’t experiencing the real joys of life) believe that drinking wine is simply not good for their bodies. Whether this is a personal decision or a belief that alcohol is damaging to the body, it is absolutely not true in the case of red wine! In fact, studies have shown that the antioxidants found in red wine are great for the body. When you expose your body to these antioxidants, you give yourself protection against diseases such as type 2 diabetes and even death! This sounds like a win-win for everyone.

2. Want the best red wine for your body? Try a younger version.

In the case of wine, many people believe that the older the wine is the better it tastes. You’ve most likely heard that the longer the wine stays in the bottle the better it is. But, when it comes to red wine, you may be surprised to know that younger red wine is actually better for you than old red wine! Why is this? Younger red wines contain higher levels of tannin (a naturally occurring element that gives the wine a dry taste). Look for darker red wines as they are typically ones with higher tannin levels.

3. Red wines contain fewer sulfites than white wines.

Some people believe that sulfur is known for causing those icky red wine headaches that creep up on you the next day. However, this is not true. Those who suffer from sulfur sensitivity usually have other conditions like asthma. Red wines contain fewer sulfite levels, which makes them less likely to degrade quickly.

4. Red wines do not have flavor additives!

If you are concerned about all of the extra additives that come in foods and drinks these days, consider yourself additive free when you choose a red wine! In fact, all of those beautiful and delicious flavors and aromas that come from red wine are natural. These aromas are simply derived from the fermented grapes and the oak barrels the wine is aged in during the winemaking process. There are absolutely no flavor additives. Consider this one of your healthier drink choices.

5. Red wine can boost your brain.

You may not be aware that red wine can actually boost your brain power, but it is true. Red wine contains something called resveratrol, a compound that has been linked to keeping your memory sharp. Drink some red wine, grab a crossword puzzle, and put your brain to work. This could literally be a lifesaver in the future.

6. Keep your blood sugar from skyrocketing.

While some red wines are known for being sweet, red wine is also known for keeping blood sugars under control. What part of the wine actually helps control your blood sugar? The skin of the red grapes is actually the reason that many diabetics find relief in regulating their blood sugar. Because the skin of the red grapes contains resveratrol (a natural compound that helps regulate blood sugar and boost brain power as noted in number 5), your body gets the help it needs in regulating blood sugar levels.

7. Red wine does not affect your waistline like beer does.

Going out for a night on the town may leave you cringing when you realize how much alcohol you actually drank. Why? Because some people equate alcohol with weight gain. Luckily, red wine will not affect your waistline! Studies have shown that women who drink one drink per day actually carried about 10 pounds less than women who didn’t drink red wine at all. Instead of depriving yourself of sweetness while on a diet, allow yourself one glass of red wine per day! This will satisfy your sweet tooth and give you the added health benefits, too.

8. Swirling your wine will release the aromas.

Have you ever wondered why people swirl their red wine glasses before they drink it? This is actually for a very good reason. When a person swirls their red wine glass, they are allowing the aromas to be released from the wine itself.

9. It reduces your stress levels.

Anything that reduces your stress levels is a winner, right? Red wine has actually be proven to reduce stress levels, according to studies. Resveratrol (also known for keeping your brain healthy and your blood sugar low) is great for lowering stress and anxiety levels. This naturally occurring compound comes from the skin of the red grape that red wine is made of. Go ahead and reward yourself with a glass of red wine at dinner each night and watch your stress levels decrease.

10. Improve your sleep quality with red wine.

As if red wine didn’t already have enough amazing benefits, it can also help improve your sleep quality. Red wine contains melatonin, a compound that is known for helping increase sleep quality to allow for longer and more restful nights of sleep. The melatonin comes from the grapes that red wine is made from as well. It is not recommended to drink a glass directly before bed, but drinking a glass a few hours before you lay down may help give you the restfulness you’ve been needing.

Conclusion

Red wine is a tasty treat that many people equate to special occasions or events. However, we just gave you 10 reasons to enjoy a nice glass of red wine every night. With the amazing health benefits and incredible tasting experiences, red wine is sure to bring a smile to your face for many reasons. As always, keep your wine consumption to a reasonable amount and allow your body to fully enjoy the benefits of this natural medicine and healer.

This article is from IloveWine, an organization that aspires to share insight and experiences with wine lovers of all kinds.

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