Exercise may cancel out heart risks if you're overweight and middle-age

Need another excuse to get up and get moving?

Exercise may cancel out the heart risks of being overweight or obese if you’re middle-age, a new observational study in the Netherlands suggests.

The research, published Wednesday in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, found that normal-weight, overweight or obese people with a high level of physical activity saw a decreased risk of heart disease. However, those who were overweight or obese but did not exercise had a 1.33 and 1.35 increased risk, respectively.

Researchers in the Netherlands analyzed more than 5,000 people ages 55 and older who did not have heart disease, and recorded their body mass index (BMI), physical activity level, diet, education, family history of heart disease, alcohol use and smoking at baseline.

They categorized participants by BMI, dividing them into groups of normal weight, overweight and obese, and then monitored their instances of heart disease and exercise levels for the next 15 years.

Regardless of BMI category, any level of exercise was linked with a reduced risk of heart disease, the study found. Researchers did not observe an association between BMI as a single factor and heart disease.

Researchers wrote that having excess weight accelerates atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart disease, but exercise appears to reverse that effect by lowering plaque and reducing oxygen demand on the heart.

"People who engage in high levels of physical activity are protected from the harmful effects of adipose tissue on cardiovascular disease," Dr. Klodian Dhana, then a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, said in a news release. "This may be why we found that the beneficial impact of physical activity on cardiovascular disease outweighs the negative impact of BMI.”

5 POSSIBLE REASONS YOUR WEIGHT LOSS HAS PLATEAUED

If that’s not enough to encourage you to encourage you to start moving, research shows exercise also can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes and cancer, as well as improve your mood, among other benefits.

For optimal health, aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week, according to the American Heart Association.

-Fox

Naira loses ground against US dollar

The Naira on Friday depreciated against the dollar at the parallel market after posting days of appreciation.

The nation’s currency lost N7 to exchange at N465 to a dollar after closing at N458 on Thursday, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro traded at N542 and N480.

At the Bureau De Change (BDC) window, the Naira traded at N399 to a dollar, CBN controlled rate, while Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N610 and N520.

Trading at the interbank market saw the Naira being sold at N305.25 to a dollar

NAN reports that the CBN injected over $500million dollars into the market, to boost liquidity, but the Naira continued to depreciate.

Traders in the market expressed concern about the depreciation of the Naira in spite of the gains earlier recorded.

Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), said there was need for a review of the distribution mechanism.

“Many banks are selling to only clients with current accounts and not to savings account holders and there is also increasing demand for forex from our neighbouring countries.

“The different applicable exchange rates and volumes with Travelex and banks need to be harmonised and with that of BDCs to reduce friction,” Gwadabe said.

-NAN

Health: What you should know about Osteoporosis

By Maame Araba Sam

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become weak and are more likely to break (fracture).
Normal bone is made of protein, collagen and calcium all of which gives bone it's strength.

Bones affected by osteoporosis can break (fracture) with relatively minor injury that normally would not cause a bone to break (fracture).

CAUSES

-Sedentary lifestyle
-Age related changes in endocrine functions.
-Overuse of Corticosteroid.
-lack of muscle use .
-Lack of weight bearing exercise s.
-Inadequate calcium and vitamin D intake.
-Bone cancer.

RISK  FACTORS
-Genetics
-Lack of exercise
-Lack of calcium and vitamin D
-Personal history of fractures as an adult
-Smoking
-Excessive alcohol consumption
-Rheumatoid arthritis
-Low body weight
-Female gender
-Caucasian or Asian race
- Advanced age
-Long term heparin or corticosteroid use
-Post menopausal women
-Advanced age
-Heavy caffeine consumption .

SIGNS and SYMTOMS

-Back pain caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra.
-loss of height over time.
-stooped posture.
-A bone fracture that occurs more easily than expected.

TREATMENT

-Bisphosphates are the most common medications prescribed for osteoporosis treatment. These includes Alendronate (fosamax), Risedronate (Actonel), Ibandronate(Bonival),Zoledronic acid (Reclast).

-Hormones such as estrogen and hormone like medications such as Raloxifene (Evista) also play a role in osteoporosis treatment.

-Denosumab might be used in people who can't take Bisphosphates such as people with reduced kidney function.

-Teriparatide(Forteo) is typically reserved for men and post menopausal women who have very low bone density, who have has fractures or whose osteoporosis is caused by steroid medication.

PREVENTION
-Increase calcium and vitamin D intake.
-Exercise regularly.
-Avoid smoking
-consume soy products.
-cut out caffeine.
-Take calcium 1000-1500mg daily plus Vitamin D 400iu daily.
-Use magnesium and minerals to aid calcium absorption.

COMPLICATIONS. 

-limited mobility .

-Depression .

-Pain.

Health: What you should know about GOUT

By Maame Araba Sam

GOUT Is  a painful and common type of arthritis caused when there is too much uric acid in the blood (hyperuricemia).

Uric acid is a waste product in the body and is normally excreted through urine.

CAUSES OF GOUT 

-Gout is caused by having higher than normal level of uric acid in your body. This may occur if your body makes too much uric acid OR
If too much uric acid builds up in the joints (synovial fluid), uric acid crystals form. These crystals cause the joint to swell and become inflamed.

-Gout may occur after taking medicines that interfere with the removal of uric acid from the body. People who take medicines like hydrochlorothiazide may
have a higher level of uric acid in the blood.

Further more ;gout may also develop in people with diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, sickle cell anaemia and other anaemias.

-Gout is more common in men, post menopausal women and people who drink alcohol.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS 

One might experience some or all of the following symptoms.
-Severe joint pain.

-Joint appears dusky red, hot, swollen

-Swollen big toe.

-Renal impairment.

-Joint deformity.
-Surrounding joint becomes edematous and inflamed.

-Headache /fever.

TREATMENT

Your health care provider will recommend the following treatment for you if you've been diagnosed with Gout.

-Dietary restrictions with avoidance of organ meat like liver, some fish, sea food and shellfish including anchovies, sardines, herring, mussels, codfish, haddock etc.

-Relieve of inflammation with anti -inflammatory agents such as colchicine.

-corticosteroids such as prednisone can also be effective.

-You may also need to take daily medicines such as Allopurinol or probenecid to decrease the uric acid level in your blood.

One might ask, what are some of the risk factors that contribute to this condition:
-male
-post menopausal women
- Aging
-Hypertension.
-Alcohol intake and is highest with beer but not increased with wine.
-Obesity.
-Diet high in meat (organ meat)  and seafood.

As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure;lets take note of the following preventive measures:

-Decrease alcohol intake especially with beer .
-lose weight if you are overweight.
-Exercise regularly.
-limit your intake of red meat and sugar beverages.
- Choose healthy foods such as dairy products ,vegetables, nuts, legumes , fruits less in sugar and whole grains.
-Drink coffee and take vitamin c supplements.

Lastly, complications of gout include chronic gouty arthritis, kidney stones and chronic kidney failure.

Araba Sam

Health: Food You Must Not Refrigerate

Food You Must Not Refrigerate

Refrigerators and deep freezers are excellent for preserving a wide variety of food items including drinks, fruits, juices, creams and even ogbono soups you would prefer to last forever. However, some grocery items do not require refrigeration and in fact, keeping them in fridges could render them potentially harmful when consumed. Such consumables, when subjected to refrigeration, could taste, smell and even look normal, at the same time being quite dangerous because of the pathogenic bacteria they might have acquired during the process of refrigeration.

Below is a list of food items you probably shouldn’t keep anywhere near your favourite cooler.

Tomatoes: Tomatoes are notorious for getting spoilt quickly. Refrigerating them actually drains them of their flavours and keeps them all mushy. They are best left on the counter for use when necessary.

Onions: Onions will only soften and compromise the rest of the items you have in your fridge. Imagine having your vanilla ice cream revealing an onion taste after spending days with your onion in the refrigerator. If I were you, I’d keep them in a paper bag within a cool, dark cabinet or drawer.

Peppers: These include red, yellow, green as well as chilli peppers. Having them stored in paper bags within a cupboard or drawer is just perfect for these food items.

Garlic: Garlics can keep their exciting flavour for several weeks when stored in paper bags in a cool, dark spot

Potatoes: These should not even be considered for refrigeration because when they get too cold, their starchy content turns to sugar before giving off a different flavour. All potatoes should be stored in paper bags within cool, dark drawers or cupboards.

Bananas: Bananas should be kept on counters in the open. Keeping them in enclosed areas like fridges will only speed up their deadline for getting rotten.

Avocados: Avocados are great when stored on the counter. However, leftovers can be kept in the fridge at the detriment of them losing their flavours. This is why it is best to use the whole avocado whenever a cut is attempted.

Apples: Ignore the factory-fitted fruit sticker on the body of your refrigerator. Keep your apples on the counter. Like tomatoes, they also begin to lose their flavour and texture whenever they are refrigerated. You can however toss them in the fridge for not more than 30minutes if you want to have a crisp chow.

Citruses: Room temperature over the counter is advised. Oranges, limes, lemons, grapes etc, are best left out of the fridge. It is wise not to store them too close to each other because for some reason they tend to mould when bunched together.

Watermelons: These balls are permitted for refrigeration only if they have been cut. Otherwise, they should be stored outside the fridge as they are prone to breaking down and ending up mealy.

Ketchup: Even after you have opened your ketchup, its best to leave them in the pantry. They usually contain just the right amount of vinegar and preservatives to keep them safe from refrigeration for as long as their expiry date lasts.

Bread: Yes. Some people are still guilty of this crime against flour. In case you don’t know, bread actually gets dried out rapidly when stored in fridges. Best to store them in cool cupboards or bread boxes in order to get fresh slices when needed.

Honey: Unless you are a sucker for crystallized gunk, you’d better leave jars of honey out of the fridge. Room temperature is just perfect for honey. Remember to store it away from direct sunlight as well.

Coffee: After taking some few teaspoonful of coffee, you’d probably feel the best place to keep the rest of the coffee is in the fridge. Room temperature is best for coffee. The reason is because the natural oils found in coffee retain their potency for a more flavoursome experience.

Next time you order groceries on Supermart.ng, just remember not to keep these stuffs anywhere inside your refrigerator. If you really want to keep them fresh, then clear some space for them over the counter or in your cabinets.

Culled from: http://www.supermart.ng/blog/why-you-must-not-refrigerate-these-foods.html