Alzheimers & diabetes

This Is Your Brain on Sugar When researchers first began to suspect there was a link between diabetes and Alzheimer’s, they wanted to know why this connection existed. Their search led them to two peptides—chains of amino acids that form proteins. One type of peptide, known as amyloid beta, is found in Alzheimer plaques in neurons of the brain—and in the pancreas of diabetic patients. The other peptide, amylin, is found in both the pancreas and the brain.5 In one study, researchers found that same hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease—amyloid beta—in both the brains and the retinas (which is considered an extension of the brain) of diabetic patients. Specifically, the researchers looked at brain-cell-damaging toxins—known as oligomers—produced by amyloid beta.6 Oligomers are responsible for causing Alzheimer’s-related memory loss. Insulin plays an important role in the formation of memories. And when oligomers attach to neurons, they knock out the insulin receptors from the neuron’s surfaces, which causes insulin resistance in the brain.6 Normally, after eating, an increase in sugar in the bloodstream signals the pancreas to boost levels of insulin, which in turn signals cells to remove sugar from the bloodstream so that the cells can use the sugar for energy. Insulin resistance occurs when cells fail to respond to insulin’s signal to allow glucose into the cells. This causes the pancreas to secrete even more insulin. Over time, the elevated insulin levels aren’t enough to compensate for the higher blood sugars, and the result is high blood sugar or diabetes since glucose can’t get into the cells. Diabetes causes even more oligomers to build up in the brain and retina, which makes neurons even more insulin resistant.6 If glucose can’t get into the cells, the brain is starved of the fuel it needs to function. Without glucose, your brain would work about as effectively as your car when it runs out of gas. The brain composes only about two percent of the entire human body mass. Yet, 50 percent of glucose use in the body occurs in the brain.7-8 The majority of the brain glucose is converted to ATP energy,9 so that your brain cells can work properly and your memory remains in top shape. The brain needs a balanced amount of glucose to function effectively. The problem occurs when the body is subjected to too much glucose and other forms of sugar such as sucrose and fructose. Too much of these sugars and it overwhelms your body to the extent that your body keeps producing more and more insulin, which ultimately loses its effectiveness, and results in the insulin resistance mentioned above. This is why, when mice with Alzheimer’s disease are fed excessive quantities of glucose, amyloid beta levels increase.10 Tangled Taus Tau proteins are another culprit to blame for the connection between diabetes and Alzheimer’s. When tau proteins clump together, they form neurofibrillary tangles, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers don’t know for sure whether these tangles actually cause Alzheimer’s, but they definitely play an important role in the development of the disease. Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) modifies these tau proteins in the brain in such a way that they begin clumping together, causing them to form neurofibrillary tangles.3 The Inflammation Link Inflammation is another link between Alzheimer’s and diabetes. Inflammation triggers the production of amyloid beta and increases the risk of the vascular disease associated with dementia. Low-grade, systemic inflammation also is linked to diabetes as well as the cognitive decline that occurs in diabetics. One study reported that higher levels of inflammation markers such as C-reactive protein were associated with lower cognitive performance.1 Not the Brain You Were Born With Diabetes results in changes to the brain’s structure—including more frequent brain lesions, and wasting away of an important area of the brain—compared to people who don’t have diabetes.1 And it’s not only the structure of the brain that changes during diabetes. The blood-brain barrier becomes more permeable as well.11 The blood-brain barrier separates circulating blood from the extracellular fluid of the central nervous system. This is because the brain is very choosy about what it allows inside of it. The blood-brain barrier keeps bacteria and other large molecules that don’t belong from entering the brain while allowing in glucose, hormones and other substances the brain needs to function. When the blood-brain barrier isn’t working properly, it allows amyloid beta to slip through into the brain.11 The ability to allow amyloid beta proteins into your brain is controlled, in part, by a receptor for advanced glycation end products—better known as AGEs—which are produced in excess in diabetes and prediabetes.12 AGEs form as a result of a protein or fat molecule combining with a sugar molecule. AGEs are easiest to understand when you think of them in relation to the browning of food. When you toast a slice of bread, the browning of the bread is the result of AGE formation in the food. This same process occurs in your body during blood sugar spikes. The more diabetes or insulin resistance disrupts your blood sugar, the more AGEs that form in your body. And, therefore, the more amyloid beta that can get into your brain and damage your neurons.12 Starving the Brain Some research shows that during diabetes and insulin resistance, the brain is being starved of the insulin it needs to function. Yet, even while high levels of insulin are saturating the body during prediabetes, the brain becomes deficient in insulin because overproduction of this hormone weakens insulin receptors at the blood–brain barrier. This results in reduced amounts of insulin transported to the brain.1 This spells disaster for brain function, since insulin enhances memory and learning. Insulin deficiency in the brain also is involved in cerebral vascular dysfunction, inflammation, oxidative stress and the inability of neurons in the brain to repair themselves.1 Are Genetics to Blame? Researchers have discovered a gene that may explain the link between Alzheimer’s and diabetes. They found that the gene, present in many Alzheimer’s disease cases, affects the insulin pathway.13 Yet, of the two types of Alzheimer’s disease—type 1 and type 2—only type 1, which accounts for five to 10 percent of Alzheimer’s cases, is genetic. This type of Alzheimer’s often develops at an earlier age. The rest of the cases, 90 to 95 percent, are type 2 and aren’t connected to genetics. Interestingly, this sounds a lot like diabetes as well, doesn’t it? Of the two types of diabetes—type 1 and type 2—type 1 accounts for five percent of all diabetes cases, with 95 percent of diabetes falling under the type 2 classification. Improve Your Diet, Boost Your Memory The research linking Alzheimer’s and diabetes means that the key to having a good memory resides in your stomach. Commit to eating a healthy diet free of sugary foods and sodas. Choose whole wheat bread and pasta over white, refined products. Stick with healthy sweeteners such as xylitol and stevia that don’t raise your blood sugar levels. And get moving! Exercise not only supports healthy blood sugar levels, it also enhances cognitive health, too. Chromium, cinnamon and Gymnema sylvestre are good choices for supplemental blood-sugar support. An analysis of the medical literature found that chromium reduced glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), which is a measure of blood sugar control, as well as fasting blood glucose levels.14 Gymnema sylvestre also reduced HbA1c levels in two small trials, while other studies showed cinnamon improved fasting blood glucose.14 In my practice, I often call chromium “will power in a bottle.” That’s because by balancing blood sugar, it also helps reduce the cravings for sweets that occur when your blood sugar is low. You’ll want to consider supplementing with 1-6 grams of cinnamon, 600 mcg of chromium and 200-800 mg of Gymnema sylvestre per day. Put the above strategies into practice and you’ll not only reap all the rewards of having balanced blood sugar—you’ll keep your memory sharp, too. References: Samaras K, et al. Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Dec;3(6):189-96. Kloppenborg R, et al. Eur J Pharmacol. 2008;585:97-108. Kim B, et al. J Alzheimers Dis. 2012 Dec 19. [Epub ahead of print.] Vagelatos NT, et al. Epidemiol Rev. 2013 Jan 21. [Epub ahead of print.] http://www.newswise.com/articles/type-ii-diabetes-and-the-alzheimer-s-connection. Bitel CL, et al. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. October 2012;32(2):291-305. Fehm HL, et al. Prog. Brain Res. 2006;153:129-40. Liu F, et al. Brain. 2009;132:1820-32. Shah K, et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2012 Oct 3;13(10):12629-55. Takeda S. Nihon Shinkei Seishin Yakurigaku Zasshi. 2012 Nov;32(5-6):239-44. Ref: http://www.wholehealthinsider.com/newsletter/alzheimers-type-3-diabetes/

7 ways to be happier at work

http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/17-ways-to-be-happier-at-work.html

How to Get Rid of Warts Using Home Remedies

Medical PK How to Get Rid of Warts Using Home Remedies Must Visit: http://MedicoPk.com/ A wart is a benign skin tumor that results from a viral infection of the human papilloma virus (HPV). Typically, warts are not painful and are often of more cosmetic rather than medical concern for many people. While there are a number of commercial preparations are available on the market, you can treat your warts using natural home remedies. Instructions 1 Use duct tape as a home remedy for warts on the hand and the foot. Cut a section of duct tape that is large enough to cover the infected wart area. Place it over the wart, applying it snuggly. Leave it on for six to seven days. After this period, remove the duct tape and soak the infected area for 10 minutes in warm water. Dry the wart and repeat the process for up to two months until the wart is healed. 2 Break open a vitamin A capsule (25,000 IU) and rub some of the liquid onto the wart. Apply this once a day until the wart heals. This remedy is strictly for external use only: ingesting large doses of Vitamin A is toxic. 3 Crush a vitamin C supplement tablet with the back of a spoon. Moisten it with a few drops of water, to form a paste. Apply this mixture directly onto the wart. Cover the area with a bandage and leave this on for at least 24 hours. The high acidic content of the vitamin C mixture is believed to kill the papilloma virus that causes the infection. 4 Treat genital warts using tea tree oil. Dampen a cotton ball with some of this essential oil and apply it directly to the genital wart, dabbing gently. Do this once every day for up to 10 days. The oil may cause a mild tingling sensation. 5 Rub the inner side of a banana peel onto your wart until the peel turns dark in color. Slice a section of banana peel that is large enough to cover the area of the wart infection. Place it over the wart with the inner side of the peel against your skin. Cover it with a bandage and leave it in place for at least 5 days.

Smell of rosemary may mprove memory

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/smell-of-rosemary-may-improve-memory-8565038.html

Home cold remedies

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Cracked Heel_Home Remedies

http://raw4beauty.blogspot.in/2013/04/home-remedies-for-cracked-heels.html Home Remedies for Cracked Heels Cracked heels are a very common problem and can happen to anyone. It basically means the visible cracks present on the heels. If proper precautions are not taken on time, it can even lead to bleeding and pain. Some of the reasons behind cracked heels are dry winds, lack of moisture, improper care of feet, unhealthy diet and wearing wrong types of shoes and so on. Instead of visiting a doctor, you can try some cracked heel remedies that you can do right in the comfort of your own home. Here are top 10 remedies for Cracked Heels. Vegetable Oil Applying vegetable oil on cracked heels can give good results. Also those having dry feet must use any kind of vegetable oil to stop getting cracks on their feet. You can use olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil or any other hydrogenated vegetable oil to treat cracked heels. First scrub your feet with a pumice stone and wash it properly and then only apply vegetable oil on the heels and soles liberally. After that wear a pair of clean socks and then go to bed so that there is ample of time for the oil to penetrate on the skin properly. In the morning you will notice much softer heels. Repeat this remedy for a few days until your cracked heels are healed properly. Paraffin Wax If the condition of the cracked heels are really bad and causing a lot of pain, paraffin wax is one such ingredient that can give you quick relief. Take paraffin wax and mix it with mustard oil or coconut oil and then heat it for some time so that the wax melts properly. Allow the mixture to come to room temperature before applying it on your feet. For better result apply this mixture on the cracked heels before going to bed and wash it off properly in the morning. You must repeat this remedy for one to two weeks to notice positive results. Banana You can also cure cracked heels at home with ripe bananas. Take one ripe banana and mash it to make a smooth paste. First clean your feet properly and then apply this banana paste on your feet and allow it to sit for ten to fifteen minutes so that the dry skin of your feet can get the much required nourishment. Finally wash your feet nicely with some warm water and then soak your feet in cold water for some time. Follow this natural remedy daily for a few weeks to enjoy soft and smooth heels. Lemon The acidic property of a lemon can be of great use inbut you need to be sure the juice of the lemon is getting touch with the rough skin. Alternatively, you can soak your feet for ten to fifteen minutes in a bucket of warm water with lemon juice added to it. Avoid using very hot water as it can take away the moisture from your feet. Finally wash your feet using pumice stone and soap and pat your feet dry with a towel. Rosewater and Glycerin Glycerin and rose water is another way to treat cracked heels at home. Especially when you are going out you need to take special care of your feet. Take glycerin and rose water in equal amount and mix it properly. Before stepping out of your home, rub the mixture on your feet until the skin has absorbed it properly. This will keep your skin remain soft for long hours and the condition of the cracks under control. Repeat this remedy for several weeks until your heels become soft. Petroleum Jelly To avoid cracked heels, you must scrub the dead hard skin around your feet regularly and then apply some petroleum jelly covering the entire heel area. After applying petroleum jelly you must cover your feet with socks so that petroleum jelly can get soaked into the skin properly. This will prevent your heels from getting cracks and make it soft and well moisturized. Try to follow this cracked heel remedy daily before going to bed. Honey Honey can also be used to treat cracked heels as it has got both moisturizing as well as antibacterial properties. Honey can take care of both dry as well as cracked heels. For softer heels, mix one cup of honey to half a bucket of warm water. Now soak your feet in this water for fifteen to twenty minutes. Finally scrub your feet gently to enjoy soft and supple feet. With this natural cure, there will be no dryness also. Warm Salt Water In case of cracked heels you need to make extra effort to keep the heel cleaned and well moisturized. Pamper your feet by soaking it in warm salty water for at least ten to fifteen minutes. Then put your feet in cold water so that the blood circulation in your feet gets better. It will also help in getting relief from the pain caused by cracked heels. Pat dry your feet and apply some foot cream or petroleum jelly to maintain the moisture. Also it is recommended to wear a pair of socks immediately. Rice Flour To exfoliate your feet you can make a natural scrub with honey, apple cider vinegar, and rice flour. To make the scrub take two to three tablespoon of ground rice, and then add a few spoons of honey and apple cider vinegar to make a thick paste. If the condition of the cracks on your heels is extremely bad, add a spoon of olive oil or sweet almond oil. First soak your feet in warm water for ten minutes and then gently scrub it with this paste to remove the dead skin around your feet. Soon you will have soft heels minus the cracks. Indian Lilac Indian Lilac also known as margosa leaves or Neem can also be used to treat cracked heels. It contains fungicidal properties and this is why it is very effective in treating cracked heels. Take a handful of Indian Lilac leaves and crush it properly to make a fine paste and then add three teaspoon of turmeric powder. Mix it well and then apply it on the cracks and leave it as it is for half an hour. Finally wash your feet with warm water and dry it out with a clean cloth. With this natural cure, there will never be the problem of cracked heels again. To conclude, at the first sign of cracked heels, start following the above mentioned natural treatments to enjoy soft and smooth heels. At the same try to keep your body well hydrated by drinking plenty of water and follow a diet high in Omega 3 fatty acids. - See more at: http://raw4beauty.blogspot.in/2013/04/home-remedies-for-cracked-heels.html#sthash.puDIZrM1.dpuf Read more at http://raw4beauty.blogspot.com/2013/04/home-remedies-for-cracked-heels.html#0q1mHfjDWDYTsYSK.99