Want to keep your heart healthy?
Switch to coffee
If you are a coffee lover,
this is going to get a smile on your face. A new study has suggested that
drinking 3-5 cups of coffee per day could cut an individual’s cardiovascular
disease (CVD) mortality risk by up to 21 percent.
The Institute for Scientific Information on
Coffee’s study highlights that the lowest CVD mortality risk is seen at an
intake of approximately 3 cups of coffee per day, with a percentage risk
reduction of up to 21 percent. The study suggests an association between coffee
consumption and CVD risk, proposing a ‘U-shaped’ pattern whereby optimal
protective effects were achieved with 3-5 cups of coffee per day.
Drinking 3-4 cups of coffee
per day is associated with an approximate 25 percent lower risk of developing
type 2 diabetes compared to consuming none or less than 2 cups per day. People
with diabetes typically have a higher CVD mortality risk and therefore, this
association may be linked to a decreased CVD risk. In males, a combination of 5
healthy behaviours (a healthy diet, moderate alcohol consumption (10 to 30 g/
day), no smoking, being physically active and having no abdominal adiposity)
could prevent 79 percent of myocardial infarction events.
Half of CVD cases in women could be avoided by
modifying lifestyle choices, as approximately 73 percent of CHD cases and 46
percent of clinical CVD are attributable to an unhealthy lifestyle. The report
concludes that recent research supports the view that moderate coffee
consumption at approximately 3 – 5 cups per day may have a protective effect
against CVD mortality risk.
It is important to note that results differ between
varying populations; it is suggested that 2 cups of coffee per day may offer
the greatest protection in a Japanese population, whilst 3 cups may provide the
greatest protection in UK and US populations.
Source: www.thehealthsite.com
29.06.2015
UK to perform world’s first artificial blood transfusion in 2017
In a breakthrough
healthcare step, the world’s first human trial of artificial blood grown in a
lab from stem cells is set to take place in the UK by 2017.
UK’s National Health Services (NHS) blood and
transplant unit has announced that manufactured blood will soon be used as a
part of clinical trials on human volunteers. The research carried out
scientists at the university of Bristol and NHS Blood and Transplant used stem
cells from adult and umbilical cord blood to create a small volume of
manufactured red blood cells.
Once proven safe for humans
this product has the capability to be used as an alternative to blood in cases
of blood disorders like sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia that require
patients to get regular blood transfusion.
The clinical trial of manufactured red blood cells
is designed to compare the survival of red cells manufactured from stem cells
with that of standard blood donor red blood cells. This will involve a group of
20 volunteers who will receive a small volume transfusion of between five and
ten millilitre of the lab-produced blood.
‘Scientists across the globe have been
investigating for a number of years how to manufacture red blood cells to offer
an alternative to donated blood to treat patients,’ said Dr Nick Watkins, NHS
Blood and Transplant Assistant Director of Research and Development. ‘We are
confident that by 2017 our team will be ready to carry out the first early phase
clinical trials in human volunteers,’ Watkins said.
‘These trials will compare manufactured cells with
donated blood. The intention is not to replace blood donation but provide
specialist treatment for specific patient groups,’ he said. ‘Research has laid the
foundation for current transfusion and transplantation practises. Continued
investment in research and development is critical to our role in saving and
improving lives through blood and organ donation,’ he added.
Source: www.thehealthsite.com
29.06.2015
You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow
where your thoughts take you
No comments:
Post a Comment