Research overwhelmingly suggests that consumption of sugar sweetened beverages including pop and juice is linked with obesity and type-2 diabetes. Specifically, overconsumption of sugar can lead to excessive weight gain and an increased risk of type-2 diabetes. Many people turn to diet drinks sweetened with artificial sweeteners to cut their consumption of sugar while still enjoying…
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is required for the body to absorb minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron) from your diet. While some foods contain vitamin D humans get most of their vitamin D from exposure to the sun and UVB. Without enough vitamin D a person can develop Rickett’s, a disease that causes…
Arthritis, or more properly osteoarthritis, is a disease of the joints that results in breakdown of the protective cartilage and eventually the bone. It often affects the joints in the hands, neck, lower back, knees, and hips. The symptoms of osteoarthritis include: pain in the joint, loss of movement, and stiffness. Osteoarthritis is usually caused by…
We currently understand very little about the long term consequences of pollution and particulate matter in our air. We have evidence that air pollution can worsen asthma symptoms and rates of heart attacks spike during times of high pollution. We also know that exposure of cells in culture to environmental pollutants causes cell damage and…
There are currently around 1.9 billion adults worldwide who are overweight, 600 million of whom are obese. In response to the rising rates of obesity, diets and diet foods have become common place in our society. One of the most common and popular diet alternatives is artificial sweeteners. Common artificial sweeteners include: aspartame, sucralose (Splenda ©), saccharin (Sweet’n…
It wasn’t that long ago that having a family history of allergies meant that the family dog or cat must go. The thought was that their presence would aggravate allergies and that a clean house free of dust and allergens could prevent children from developing allergies. How the times have changed, there is now plenty…
Your blood is composed of a number of different types of cells. There are the red blood cells whose primary job is to carry oxygen throughout the body. You also have the white blood cells which are important in your immune system. Finally, your blood has small cell fragments known as platelets which play an…
Asthma affects 8.6% of all American children and is the leading cause of hospitalization and school absenteeism. Exacerbations of asthma sypmtoms can lead to extended hospital stays and the need for strong courses of anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator drugs. In 2009, 8.4% of people with asthma had to visit the emergency department and 2% of people were…
Dementia is a disease that mainly affects older people and is characterized by difficulties with coordination and speech, memory distortions, restlessness, and problems with perception. People with dementia also suffer from behavioural changes which can include depression, irritability, anxiety, apathy, and agitation. 20-40% of people over the age of 85 will be diagnosed with dementia…
A report in 2012, published in the journal Cell Research, seemed to suggest that genetic material, specifically microRNA, could pass from a person’s small intestine and into their blood stream. These microRNAs are small pieces of genetic code that cells use to modify the expression of certain genes. Think of them as dimmer switches on…
