Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Photo by Drew Hays on Unsplash Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic have uncovered differences in the bacterial composition of breast tissue of healthy women vs. women with breast cancer. Importance of Bacteria Bacteria that exists in your body is often thought of as unhealthy, but …
Photo by Sam Owoyemi on Unsplash Depression is a disorder that affects around 6.7% of adults in the United States each year. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that more than 300 million people currently live with the disorder. This disorder is not a normal …
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than two million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported in the U.S in 2016, the highest number ever recorded.
The majority of the diagnoses were cases of chlamydia (1.6 million), followed by gonorrhea at 470,000 cases and syphilis at 28,000 cases. While all three STDs can be cured with antibiotics, if left undiagnosed and untreated, they can have serious health consequences, including infertility, life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, and increased risk for HIV transmission (CDC). If you think that you might have an STD, it is in your best interest to get tested so that you can receive treatment.
Director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV/Aids, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention Jonathan Mermin, MD, MPH, reports, “Increases in STDs are a clear warning of a growing threat. STDs are a persistent enemy, growing in number, and outpacing our ability to respond.”
Chlamydia is the most common STD and is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia Trachomatic. It is easily transmitted by sexual activity, as well as during childbirth. Though it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease that can scar and affect fertility in women and can cause testicular pain and swelling in men, chlamydia is known as a “silent” infection, because most people have no symptoms.
Gonorrhea displays symptoms such as burning during urination and vaginal/penile discharge. It can create itching, bleeding and painful bowel movements and, if left untreated, can cause severe and permanent health problems, including long-term pain and infertility.
This is the most serious bacterial STD that, if left untreated, can affect the brain, heart, and other organs that may lead to death. It is c commonly called the “Great Pretender”, due to its symptoms mimicking other diseases which may include rashes, sores, fevers, sore throat, headache and muscle aches.
Dr. Gail Bolan, director of the CDC’s Division of STD Prevent reports, “Back in the 1940s the advent of penicillin, which is quite effective against syphilis, allowed us to dramatically reduce cases.” At that time, treatment with penicillin all but eliminated syphilis. But in 2016, reported cases were at a record high.
New Study: Urine Samples can now detect HPV. Click here to read more!
Epidemic accelerating in multiple populations greatly impact women, infants, and gay and bisexual men.
“While young women continue to bear the greatest burden of chlamydia (nearly half), surges in syphilis and gonorrhea are increasingly affecting new populations.”
Advancements in Technology: An App that can Diagnosed an STD? Click here to read more!
David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, blames funding deficits as a huge part of the reason why STDs are on the rise. “Funding cutbacks for prevention, education and healthcare programs, an on-going debate about sex education for young people, with cutbacks in that arena, particularly from this administration, and a rise in social media dating apps have all contributed to the rise.”
According to a report on the CDC’s website, the organization is using STD surveillance data and other tools to detect and respond to these threats, targeting their efforts on strengthening the response to syphilis with improving the diagnosing and treatment of pregnant women and newborns, helping state and local health departments to test for other STDs and integrating STD prevention into care of people living with HIV.
For more information from CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, visit www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom.
Photo by Jason Tuinstra on Unsplash Diabetes is a vicious and life-threatening disease. It is a condition where your blood sugar is continuously and seriously elevated. The excess circulating blood sugar is very destructive, inflaming tissues in the heart and circulation, the eyes, brain, kidneys …
Trillions of bacteria live in our gut – both healthy and unhealthy. When the body has more unhealthy bacteria than healthy bacteria, it can cause digestive problems such as bloating and gassiness. Research has shown that balanced levels of “good” bacteria is needed for proper …
Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies. It is found in our bones, skin, nails, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Think of Collagen simply as the ‘glue’ that holds us together.
While our bodies naturally produce Collagen, by the time we hit age 25, the rate at which it is produced decreases at a rate of about 1.5% each year. That means that by age 45, you’ve lost about 30%. By age 60, you’ve lost almost half! There are many outside factors that can also deplete your levels, including smoking, too much sun, diabetes, poor nutrition, stress and poor hydration. Low amounts in the body will directly impact your skin, muscles and joints. You’ll start to show symptoms of wrinkles, sagging skin, muscle pain and soreness, and joint pain. Here’s what you need to know in order to get it back on track.
Collagen exists in the human body in over 25 forms, but more than 90% is formed by Type 1 and Type 3. This is the reason why many brands focus on these two types. Combined, these proteins are essential in the support of connective and structural tissues. Type 1 is derived from hides, bones, and the skin of animals, whereas Type 2 is only found in cartilage (typically chicken). Now here’s what sets a high-quality brand of Collagen from a generic brand – whether or not it is hydrolyzed.
According to Suhail Ishaq, president of BioCell Technology, “Of these types, collagen is either unhydrolyzed (also known as undenatured) or hydrolyzed. In its original, unhydrolyzed state, its molecules are very large and therefore not effectively absorbed by the intestines. Hydrolyzation breaks it down into small molecular weight fragments to enhance absorption without affecting its beneficial components.” Numerous studies show that supplementation with hydrolyzed type 1 Collagen may also help improve cellulite.
Bones are made out of calcium and collagen. Generally, we think of calcium as the most important component for bone health, but collagen is just as important – 90% of the organic mass of your bone is made out of it. What’s more, two thirds of the cartilage in joints is made out of collagen as well. If you are taking supplements to build strong, healthy bones, this important protein should be a part of your regimen.
Let’s Talk About the Benefits of Collagen! Read More By Clicking Here! >>
Collagen is also a very well known supplement to promote healthy skin from the inside, out. Women may face a steeper incline than men do in the uphill battle against skin aging. Women’s skin actually ages faster than men’s. Further, after menopause, when estrogen levels drop off, production of this protein drastically declines. In the 5 years following menopause, women go through an acute loss of collagen in their skin and can lose an additional 30% of their total collagen.4 After menopause, loss of collagen also leads to thinning skin with loss of elasticity. That’s the bad news. Here’s the good news; when you give the body what it needs, it can return to a younger-healthier state. True, lasting beauty comes from the inside out.
About 30% of the dry weight of our body is collagen with a higher proportion in our skin. It keeps our skin firm, smooth and elasticity. When we do not have enough, skin easily forms wrinkles and sags under its own weight. The plump, smooth skin we associate with youth has a lot to do with the significantly higher amounts of collagen we have when we are young.
“Collagen is an essential building material, but all superheroes need their sidekicks,” says Nicole Crane, BTS, NP, former Director of Nutrition for InVite® Health. The undervalued and widely under consumed mineral, Silicia, helps new collagen to form and is absorbed into the skin quicker and more efficiently. “Silica also plays an important role in how Collagen attaches to the other components of our skin and allows skin to be stronger and more resilient. Silica can be very hard to absorb, so a bioavailable form, like that sourced from the herb Horsetail is ideal.” These proteins are a dynamic duo for healthy, firm, and youthful looking skin.
Boswellia Serrata is an important Ayurvedic herb that is traditional used for arthritis, due to Boswellic acid (a widely studied acid for anti-inflammatory activity). Animal studies show that Boswellia is a potent 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor that may give it the potent anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic benefit.