Find out more about your health here from our health professionals!
Calories are a unit of measurement for the amount of energy in food and beverages.
We put energy into our bodies when we eat and drink. This energy will then be used in our daily activities, such as breathing, sleeping, and running.
To maintain a stable weight, we must balance the energy we put into our bodies with the energy we use through normal body functions and daily activities. Simply put, the more calories you put into your body, the more activities you need to do to burn them off, and vice versa.
General calories intake
Men on average need about 2500 kcal per day, while women need about 2000 kcal per day. However, as mentioned above, the amount of recommended nutrient intake varies from person to person based on their daily activities, occupation, frequency of exercise, lifestyle habits, and also body metabolism.
The more vigorously you engage in an activity, the more calories you will expend. Fast walking, for example, burns more calories than moderate walking. If you're gaining weight, it could be because you've been eating and drinking more calories than you've been burning. To lose weight, you must expend more energy than you consume; this can be accomplished by eating less or exercising more vigorously. Doing this consistently over time will get you to your desired weight.
When people try to lose weight, they tend to restrict their food intake and often do not enjoy their diet changes. A healthy diet should also be a sustainable diet, which means gradually but consistently reducing unhealthy food consumption, consuming more healthier food options, and being mindful of the amount of food consumed.
Calorie counter
Nowadays, there are various apps that can be used on a mobile phone to track not only your calorie intake but also your steps, exercise, and the energy that you burn. Using all these apps and gadgets is helpful in making sure that you are on track with your diet and exercise.
One of the apps developed by the Ministry of Health Malaysia that is compatible with the Malaysian variety of foods is My Nutri Diary 2.0. The app is helpful in monitoring your calorie intake and your weight progress. Often, when we use calorie tracking apps, it frustrates users that the app does not know how many calories a nasi lemak has (or any local food), but with my nutri diary, it covers a variety of Malaysian food options, which can be helpful for our daily food consumption.
Gap between unhealthy diet and body needs
While trying to lose, put on, or maintain weight, imbalanced consumption of foods may lead to the loss of some essential nutrients. Hence, to bridge the gap between the lack of nutrients in food and what the body needs, consumption of multivitamins and multiminerals is helpful.
Other conditions include denture problems, loss of appetite, a hectic lifestyle, and many more.
Individuals with poor blood
circulation typically experience numbness and coldness in their extremities,
particularly their hands and feet. It is often the result of an underlying
condition to a more serious condition, such as uncontrolled diabetes or low
blood pressure, but it can also be the result of poor posture, among other
things.
Here are some tips on how to
improve your blood circulation:
1. Go on regular walks
Walking can improve blood
circulation. Contraction of the calf muscle causes venous blood to be pushed
back up to the heart. The arteries dilate when patients walk and improve blood
flow throughout the body. Aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of walking three
times per week.
2.
Reduce your weight
Being obese or overweight poses a
greater health risk to your circulatory system because it increases your risk
of hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes, all of which lead to blood
circulatory problems.
Consumption of food in moderation,
balance and exercise regularly can help to prevent being obese and overweight.
3.
Take more breaks at work
Taking more work breaks allows you
to develop the habit of alternately sitting, standing, and walking. This
reduces the demand on the circulatory system because sitting causes blood flow
to slow and pool in your legs, resulting in muscle pain and fatigue. Thus,
taking more breaks while working in an office is beneficial for improving blood
flow and keeping your stress level in check.
Try to stretch every 15 to 20
minutes and get up and move every hour—even if it's just a power walk around
your house.
4. Stay hydrated
When your body is dehydrated, it affects the amount of blood that
circulates through it. It also causes your blood to retain more sodium, causing
it to thicken and making it much more difficult for your circulatory system to
function properly.
Checking your pee is the simplest
way to ensure that you are getting enough fluid. A yellow light or clear urine
indicates that you are drinking enough water; anything darker indicates that
you need to up your water intake game!
5. Manage your blood pressure
High blood pressure causes your blood circulation to go haywire,
putting more strain on your heart and blood vessels. If you do not manage your
blood pressure properly, the heart and circulatory system will have to work
harder to supply blood flow throughout the body.
High blood sugar levels can harm the lining of small blood vessels, causing blood circulation issues. This condition will also encourage the formation of plaque in your blood vessels, further complicating matters.
Exercise, limiting sodium intake,
reducing stress, getting enough sleep, and making changes to your lifestyle can
all help to lower your blood pressure and improve your circulation. Ideally,
your blood pressure should be less than 120/80 mmHg.
6. Elevate your legs
Elevating your legs relieves
pressure on your veins because the blood does not have to work against gravity
to return to the heart.
When you are watching TV or taking
a nap, the most convenient time to elevate your legs is when you are lying down
and prop your legs above your heart level for 15 minutes or more at a time.
This will greatly improve overall blood circulation.
Many experts recommend doing exercise or at least moving around to improve blood circulation. This is because exercise leads muscles to require more oxygen, which improves blood circulation.
Current medical science proves the old adage that "a man is as old as his arteries (blood vessels)," because we now know that blood vessels transport vital oxygen-rich blood to all body tissue. Maintaining artery health (blood vessel health) is thus analogous to maintaining overall health.
Endothelial cells line the inside of blood vessels and perform a variety of functions, the most important of which is the production of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is essential for keeping the lining of blood vessels smooth and slippery, preventing white blood cells and platelets from adhering and causing inflammation or blood clots. Aside from that, it relaxed the muscle cells in blood vessels to prevent spasms and keep arteries open.
A study of four groups of healthy people: young exercisers, young non-exercisers, elderly exercisers, and elderly non-exercisers discovered that while age had a significant impact on endothelial function and nitric oxide production, it had a smaller and more gradual impact on people who exercised regularly. This demonstrates that exercise does, in fact, keep blood vessels young!
Regular exercise benefits blood vessels by increasing nitric oxide production in endothelial cells, thereby maintaining oxygen supply throughout the body and heart health!
When you have a poor blood supply, your extremities, such as your hands and legs, are often affected.
Here are some exercises to improve blood circulation in your extremities;
In conclusion, because exercise is essential for maintaining healthy blood vessels, body movement will help in some ways to maintain healthy blood vessels. So get moving and don't be a couch potato!
In this article we are going to focus solely on slimming products that people consume like functional foods, pills, beverages, not for external use like ointment, lotion, or other types of slimming products since different kind of product has different method on how they give effect to the body.
Slimming pills on the market is either from drug, or drug combination or from herbal supplement. As for drugs at the moment, in Malaysia we only use two types of drugs which is anti-obesity medicine (AOM) that act on gastrointestinal tracts (GIT) or better known as orlistat (brand name Xenical) and drugs which is used to suppress appetite or better known as Sibutramine or phentermine. The consumption of all these drugs must be prescribed and monitored by doctors.
There are certain criteria for doctors to consider in order to prescribed slimming pills such as when individual has BMI more than 30, but most importantly is when the individual have tried to loss weight like eat healthily and exercise. Once individual have achieved certain weight loss then the doctor can no longer prescribed the medication, which is why, the consumption of such drugs needs to be monitored by doctors only. Also, to note that there have been cases previously where the prescription of slimming drugs which harm individual health, the drug is called Fen-Phen, it was phenomenal back then, it was a combination from Phentermine and Fenfluramine, but Foods and Drugs Administration (FDA) already take it back from the market as it can harm human health specifically heart valve. When prescribing slimming drugs doctors will usually conduct full body examination and blood test from time to time thus whatever things that is not suitable for body may be detected early, unlike consuming slimming pills without prescription.
As for herbal supplement slimming pills, the ingredients can be from various ingredients, either plant-based ingredients or animal-based ingredient. Since it does not consider as drugs thus it is not put under the strict and effectiveness requirement that drugs are in.
In Malaysia, all these supplement products need to be notified to Ministry of Health (MOH) under the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) for its safety. Once it is being notified, NPRA will provide the supplement products with notification number. Many product founders use this as their marketing strategy as to promote that their product is approved by MOH. However, products with notification number does not means that they are safe. It means that they are confident that their product is safe so that MOH can come and spot check anytime to make sure that their products is safe. Of course, before NPRA provide the product with the notification number they already go through the product ingredients and all that, but different batches of supplement are produce over the time, which can be different from the one sent for checking initially.
Among common ingredients that are in slimming pills supplement are chitosan (from shrimp shell), caffeine, bitter orange, green tea, beta gluten, carnitine, raspberry ketone, white kidney bean, yohimbe, guar gum, garcinia cambogia, fucoxanthin and many more. All these ingredients usually do not have conclusive study findings but rather mixing or promising study findings.
Which is why when it comes to supplement consumption it is very much suggested to go through below guideline from MOH:
In conclusion, whether slimming pills work or not it is still depending on type of slimming pills itself whether it is considered as drugs (need doctor prescription) or herbal one which is over the counter pills. All in all, health experts agree that making lifestyle changes including following a healthy eating pattern, reducing calorie intake, and engage in physical activity is the basis for achieving long term weight loss. But since making lifestyle changes can be difficult to some people, even more nowadays that there are many temptations for unhealthy food around us, not to mention the processed food which is marketed as ready to eat or ready to cook food (microwaved) but contain high trans-fat. Thus, it is really suggested that if you are to consume any slimming pills, get advice from healthcare professionals and accompanied it with healthy eating habit and exercise.
References
Soluble fiber
Dissolves in water; absorb water to form a gel like substance that slow the digestion and cause you to feel full. They have been shown to decrease cholesterol and lower blood glucose. Common source of soluble fiber includes beans, oat bran, fruits and vegetables. It is also found in pysllium, a common fiber supplement.
Insoluble fiber
Does not dissolve in water; Increase fecal bulk and appear to help food pass more quickly through the digestive tract so it can be of benefit to those who struggle with constipation and irregular stools.
Facts About Fiber (3,4)
1. Fiber aids in achieving healthy weight.
2. Fiber fight diseases. It appears to reduce risk of developing various health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, constipation and breast cancer.
3. Fiber helps to lower cholesterol.
4. Fiber helps to regulate blood glucose.
5. Recommended dietary fiber intake per day for all age group is 20-30g/day. However, if a person is not currently eating enough of fiber, he or she should increase his or her fiber intake slowly to avoid gas and bloating.
6. More fiber needs more water. When eating a high fiber diet, be sure to drink at least eight or more glasses of water every day.
7. Fiber aids in improving digestion by increasing stool bulk and regularity. A high-fiber diet may help reduce the risk of hemorrhoids and diverticulitis.
8. Too much fiber is a bad thing. You may experience abdominal cramping, bloating, gas, constipation and even diarrhea.
9. Fruit and vegetable peels are rich in several nutrients including fiber. Eating unpeeled fruits and vegetables keep you feel full longer due to its high fiber content. However, certain fruit and vegetable peels may be hard to consume or simply inedible. These peels are best removed and not eaten.
10. Fruits and vegetable juice has less fiber than whole fruits and vegetable. This is because the skin is removed and thus it is more healthful to eat whole fruit and vegetable.
11. Fiber cannot be cooked out.
Tips to Increase fiber intake (5,7)
1. Consume products that have whole grain listed as the first ingredients, high fiber content and low fat and sugar content.
2. Replace white rice, bread and pasta with brown rice and whole grain products.
3. Include legumes in your diet (beans, dried peas and lentils)
4. Eat unpeeled whole fruit and vegetables not juice.
5. Snack on fruits and vegetables
6. Take a fiber supplement (e.g psyllium)
In conclusion,
Fiber is an important dietary substance to your diet. This is because high fiber foods are also good sources of vitamins, mineral and antioxidants which offer many health benefits. Therefore, as one of the key ingredients to healthy eating, fiber is something you cannot skip.
References
Fasting
has long been a part of many religious traditions, including the Jewish and Muslim
holidays of Yom Kippur and Ramadan, respectively. As you read this, billions of
Muslims around the world are participating in this act of faith, which involves
fasting from dawn to dusk. While fasting for Ramadan is based on spiritual
beliefs, many of us fast because we believe it benefits our health. However,
what happens to our bodies when we fast?
The primary source of energy for a person is glucose, which is obtained from carbohydrates such as grains, dairy products, fruits, certain vegetables, beans, and even sweets.
The glucose is stored in the liver and muscles and released
into the bloodstream when the body requires it. This process, however, changes
during fasting. The liver will deplete its glucose reserves after about 8 hours
of fasting. At this point, the body enters a state known as glucogenesis, which
marks the transition into fasting mode.
Glucogenesis has been shown in studies to increase the
number of calories burned by the body. Without carbohydrates, the body burns
its own calories. When there is no carbohydrate available, the body produces
its own glucose, primarily from fat.
The body eventually runs out of these energy sources as
well. Fasting mode then transitions into the more serious starvation mode. A
person's metabolism slows down at this point, and their body begins to burn
muscle tissue for energy. Although it is a well-known term in the dieting
world, true starvation mode occurs only after several days or even weeks
without food. So, unless other health conditions exist, it is generally safe to
go without eating for a day after breaking their fast after 24 hours. (1)
“A detoxification process also occurs, because any toxins
stored in the body’s fat are dissolved and removed from the body,” he adds,
noting that after a few days of fasting, higher levels of endorphins –
“feel-good hormones” are produced in the blood, which can have a positive
impact on mental well-being. As mentioned previously, the study by Dr.Longo and
colleagues suggests prolonged fasting may also be effective for regenerating
immune cells. “When you starve, the system tries to save energy, and one of the
things it can do to save energy is to recycle a lot of the immune cells that
are not needed, especially those that may be damaged,” Dr.Longo explains. In
their study, publish in the journal Cell Stem Cell, the team found that
repeated cycles of 2 – 4 days without food over a 6-month period destroyed the
old and damaged immune cells in mice and generate new ones.
Furthermore, the team discovered that cancer patients who
fasted for three days prior to chemotherapy were protected against immune
system damage caused by the treatment, which they attribute to immune cell
regeneration. "The good news is that the body got rid of the parts of the
system that might be damaged or old, the inefficient parts, during the fasting,"
says Dr. Longo. "Now, if you start with a system that has been heavily
damaged by chemotherapy or ageing, fasting cycles can literally generate a new
immune system." (2)
Intermittent fasting, on the other hand, is associated with
numerous health risks, according to the UK's National Health Service (NHS).
People who fast frequently become dehydrated, owing to their
bodies' inability to obtain fluid from food. As a result, it is advised that
Muslims consume plenty of water prior to fasting periods during Ramadan. Other
people who follow fasting diets should stay hydrated during their fasting
periods.
On the other hand, according to the UK’s National Health
Service (NHS), there are numerous health risks associated with intermittent
fasting.
Fasting can also cause heartburn; lack of food leads to a
reduction in stomach acid, which digests food and destroys bacteria. But
smelling food or even thinking about it during fasting periods can trigger the
brain into telling the stomach to produce more acid, leading to heartburn.(2)
Finally, to sum up, moderation is the key. Know the
precaution step to avoid the potential risk. A person must understand his or
her current health condition before proceeding to any sort of diet plan.
Fasting can also cause heartburn because a lack of food
reduces stomach acid, which digests food and destroys bacteria. However,
smelling food or even thinking about it during a fast can cause the brain to
tell the stomach to produce more acid, resulting in heartburn. (2)
To summarize, moderation is essential. Understand the
precautionary measure to avoid the potential risk. Before beginning any diet
plan, a person must first understand his or her current health situation.
References
Medical News Today (n.d). What Happens If You Don’t Eat For A Day? Timeline And Effects. [online] Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322065#can-fasting-promote-weight-loss [Accessed 29 April 2020].
Medical News Today
(n.d). Fasting: Health Benefits And Risks. [online] Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/295914
[Accessed 29 April 2020].
Diarrhea is characterized by frequent soft or loose bowel movements (poop). Most children experience diarrhea from time to time. It usually does not last long and usually resolves on its own, but in children, the period when they have diarrhea is critical because they may be losing too much water, which can lead to other health problems.
Among the dehydration symptoms that parents and/or caregivers should look for in children who have diarrhea are:
Diarrhea is usually caused by an infection, such as rotavirus, bacteria like salmonella, or a parasite like giardia. Aside from dehydration symptoms, it also includes vomiting, stomachache, headache, and fever.
It is also critical to seek medical attention right away if your child or baby exhibits any of the following symptoms:
It is best to prevent fluid loss when treating diarrhea in children or adults, whether in a clinical setting or at home.
Here are some tips that parents and/or caregivers can use to prevent fluid loss at home:
In conclusion, diarrhea in children can be very serious and is quite common; some of the practices that parents may employ when dealing with children who frequently experience diarrhea include ensuring that their children's and caregiver's hygiene is always maintained. Ensure that food is stored at the proper temperature, particularly dairy and raw food products; that food is fully cooked; and that the home environment is clean, especially if there is a pet in the same household. Aside from these, taking probiotic supplements is beneficial to their gut health.
References.
Babies with
spit are common, especially after they have consumed milk and burped. This
little spit is called GER. But if your baby experiences frequent vomiting
associated with discomfort, difficulty feeding, or weight loss, it may be
something more serious than GER. But the condition of GER in babies, children,
and adults is almost the same.
For babies, it
is usually because of their poorly coordinated gastrointestinal tract (immature
GI system), while for children it might be caused by obesity, overeating,
eating spicy and/or oily foods, drinking caffeinated and/or carbonated
beverages, and certain types of medication. But all in all, the cause of GER to
occur in children is the same as in adults: it is when anything causes the
muscular valve between the stomach and esophagus (LES) to relax, or it can
occur due to anything that increases the pressure below the LES.
Symptoms in children
The most common GER symptoms in infants and
children are:
Tips to identify and help children experiencing GER.
When it comes to
children, it is best to pay closer attention to their complaints or observe
them, as children frequently do not know what is wrong with their bodies and
lack the vocabulary to describe the pain that they are experiencing. Apart from
this, you may also suggest the child sit upright for two hours after eating,
especially if they eat something that commonly triggers their GER (e.g., oily,
spicy foods, carbonated, caffeinated drinks). You may also try to give your
child several small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals. Make
sure that your child is not overeating, and encourage your child to do regular
exercise. You can help babies by elevating the baby crib or bassinet, or by holding
the baby upright for 30 minutes after feeding and assisting him/her in
burping.
In conclusion, the acid reflux condition that
occurs in adults occurs in children too. It is just that sometimes children do
not know how to describe it and do not understand what happens to themselves
when such things happen. The key is to pay attention to their complaint and
help them with the tips above!
Children and adults need at least 20 to 30 grams of fiber per day for good health. It can be obtained through consuming diet rich with whole grains food, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and fruits.
There are two types of fiber, which are soluble fiber and insoluble fibre.
There are various studies confirming that consumption of diet high in fiber helps to make overall body function healthier.
Heart Health.
In a Harvard study with over 40, 000 male health professionals, researcher found out that consumption of high fiber diet reduce 40% risk of getting coronary heart disease. Another study conducted by Harvard among females nurses also found the similar findings, high fiber diet lowers the risk of metabolic syndrome (a combination factor of getting heart disease and diabetes). These factors are high blood pressure, high insulin levels, excess weight, high triglycerides level, and low HDL level (good cholesterol level).
Diabetes Mellitus Type 2.
Diet low in fiber and high in carbohydrates and fat can cause sudden spike in blood sugar, this can lead to increasing risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Both Harvard studies with female nurse and male health professionals, found that this type of diet increase more than doubled risk of type 2 diabetes.
Other studies such as Black Women’s Health Study and the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition have shown similar results.
Constipation.
The fiber in wheat bran and oat bran is considered more effective than fiber from fruits and vegetables. Experts recommend increasing fiber intake gradually rather than suddenly, and because fiber absorbs water, beverage intake should be increased as well as fiber intake increases.
Cancer.
Fiber is shown to decreases risk of breast cancer through a large-scale study in 2016, where findings of the study indicates that higher fiber intake reduces breast cancer risk, suggesting that fiber intake during adolescents and early adulthood may be particularly important.
In another word, women who consume higher fiber foods during adolescents and young adulthood, including vegetables and fruits, may have significantly lower breast cancer risk than those who eat less dietary fiber when young.
In conclusion, consumption of sufficient fiber can gives various benefits to human body, according to Malaysia Food Pyramid 2020, it is recommended to consume 3 servings of vegetables and fruits daily. However, according to National Health Morbidity Survey (NHMS) about 95% of Malaysian do not consume enough vegetables and fruits daily, which is why sometimes consumption of fiber supplement can help to bridge the gap of poor dietary intake.
Reference
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines probiotics as live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer health benefits on the host. It can be found in fermented foods (e.g., yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, and kimchi), dietary supplements, and cosmetics.
Probiotics may contain a variety of microorganisms. The most common are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. There are also other bacteria being used as probiotics such as Saccharomyces boulardii.
According to studies, different types of bacteria exert different effects on the human body. Therefore, choosing the right strains and types of probiotics is essential to address the said health concern.
Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics.
Prebiotics are nondigestible food components that promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms. Probiotics are not the same thing. Prebiotics are commonly consumed by probiotics, which can stimulate their growth and activity. While synbiotics are typically products that combine probiotics and prebiotics. All in one supplement product, this combination allows bacteria (probiotics) to feed on prebiotics.
Why probiotics are important?
Many studies on the benefits of consuming probiotics have recently emerged. Probiotics, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), may help your body maintain a healthy community of microorganisms or help your body's community of microorganisms return to a healthy state after being disturbed. It can also influence your body's immune response.
Take away message
There is currently no recommendation for how much probiotics we should consume in our daily lives, but because it has so many benefits, many people have begun to consume probiotics on a daily basis. If you rarely consume probiotic-rich foods like the ones mentioned above, probiotic supplements can be used as an alternative.
References
Probiotics can help to maintain health in a variety of ways. The first is by maintaining a healthy microorganism community. Second, by assisting the body's community microorganisms in returning to a healthy state after being disturbed.
Other than bacteria, the body contains fungi, parasites, and viruses. All of these "bugs" coexist peacefully and naturally in a healthy person, with the greatest number found in the intestines. Scientists refer to all these coexisting "bugs" in our bodies as the microbiome.
The microbiome plays a
key role in promoting the smooth daily operation of the human body. It consists
of both helpful and potentially harmful microbes. The disturbance in the
balance between the helpful and harmful microbes may arise due to infectious
illnesses, certain diets, prolonged use of antibiotics or other
bacteria-destroying medications, which can lead to the body becoming more
susceptible to diseases.
Scientists believe that probiotics are most effective at both ends of the age spectrum, that is, children and the elderly, during stress, after antibiotic consumption, and so on. Probiotics influence the bacteria colonization process, which can lead to a faster restoration of a healthy microbiome and a lower risk of illness.
Probiotics also help to
maintain health by influencing the body's immune response. Microbiota aid in
the stimulation of the immune system in the body; for example, a healthy
microbiota will protect the body from pathogenic organisms that enter the body,
such as through the consumption of contaminated food and beverages.
A variety of bacteria
families are found in the human gut, including Prevotella, Ruminoccoides,
Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, Clostridium, and Firmicutes. These microbes in the
gut prevent the overgrowth of harmful bacteria by competing for nutrients and
attachment sites on the mucous membrane of the gut, which in turn provides
immune activity to the body.
In a nutshell, while
there are numerous additional benefits to consuming probiotics, such as
improved skin health, scientists are still trying to figure out how probiotics
can help with other health conditions. However, large-scale studies, such as
the Human Genome Project, show promising results on the health benefits of
probiotics.
References
1.
Harvard T.H. Chan.
School of Public Health. The Nutrition Source. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/microbiome/
2. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Bugs
in the system. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/magazine/magazine_article/bugs-in-the-system/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Chan-Facebook-General
World Health Organization (WHO) defines probiotics as live microorganisms that when administered in adequate amounts confer health benefits on the host. It can be found in fermented food (E.g.: yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, and kimchi), dietary supplements, and cosmetics.
Probiotics may contain variety of microorganisms. The most common are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. There are also other bacteria being used as probiotics (e.g.: Saccharomyces boulardii.)
According to studies, different types of bacteria exert different effect to human body. Therefore, choosing the right strains and types of probiotics is essential for it to works on the said health concern.
How does probiotics help to maintain health?
There are variety of ‘bugs’ that coexist naturally in the body such as bacteria, fungi, parasite and viruses, these are what scientists refer to as microbiome. In the body of a healthy person, all these bugs coexist peacefully. The role of the microbiome is to promote smooth daily operation of human body. However, conditions such as infectious illness, certain diet, prolonged use of antibiotics and/or other bacteria-destroying medications, can lead to body becoming more susceptible to diseases.
Due to this, scientists believe that consumption of probiotics influence bacteria colonization process, which can lead to speedy restoration of healthy microbiome and lower risk of being sick.
Probiotics and COVID-19?
Probiotic is link with COVID19 due to its ability to boost the immune system. Currently, most extensive researched on probiotics include Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Escherichia Coli, Enterococcus, etc. Although probiotics mechanism profoundly focuses on the gastrointestinal tract, the effect of probiotics is not confined to the digestive system only. Probiotics can act on the entire body via immune modulation. Not only that, it also facilitate the immune system development and maturation and regulate the interaction between host and pathogen by killing the pathogen and regulate the immune responses towards it.
One might argue that, but COVID-19 is a viral infection unlike others. A systematic review described probiotics’ efficacy against viral diseases where more than 20 strains of probiotics showed the anti-inflammatory effects on the body and antibody production against viruses.
Moreover, study found out that viral loads were lowered upon probiotics supplementation, it is postulated due to immune modulation by microbiota that fights against COVID-19 directly and decrease the risk of secondary infections due to prolonged antibiotics exposure from multiple experimental COVID19 treatment.
China’s National Health Commission recommended probiotics for severe COVID-19 patients to restore the intestinal balance and protect from secondary infections. Moreover, gut microbiota’s role in modulating lung diseases has been demonstrated.
In conclusion, scientists in this study suggest that many more studies should be established on the effectiveness of using probiotics as prevention and especially treatment of COVID-19. As of now, apart from practicing social distancing, wearing mask, adhere to the standard operating procedure (SOP), individuals may also benefits from probiotics rich foods and supplementation for its boosting immunity properties and fight against COVID-19.
Reference
Contoh hidangan suku – suku separuh:
Terdapat 5 mesej utama dalam amalan diet suku – suku separuh.
Mesej Utama 1: Makan 3 Hidangan Utama yang sihat dalam sehari.
Makan sarapan, makan tengah hari, dan makan malam dengan sihat dengan mengikut konsep suku – suku separuh.
Makan pada waktu yang tetap juga membantu pengawalan porsi/ saiz hidangan makanan. Berikut adalah contoh waktu makan seharian.
Mesej Utama 2: Makan 1-2 Snek yang Sihat di antara Waktu Makan Jika Perlu
Bagi menggalakan pemakanan secara sihat secara holistik atau sebagai gaya hidup, anda juga digalakkan untuk mengambil snek sihat 1-2 kali dari sumber buah – buahan, kekacang, dan sayur – sayuran.
Contoh snek sihat yang boleh di ambil 1-2 sajian ialah:
Mesej Utama 3: Makan Sekurang-kurangnya Separuh Daripada Bijirin Anda Sebagai Bijirin Penuh
Malaysia adalah negara di mana, makanan rujinya adalah nasi, oleh itu tidak hairanlah jika kebanyakkan rakyat Malaysia masih berasa tidak kenyang selagi tidak makan nasi. Oleh yang demikian, Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM) menggariskan pengambilan karbohidrat hendaklah diambil kebanyakkannya dari sumber bijirin penuh, seperti dari sumber nasi beras perang, roti bijirin mil penuh, jagung, barli dll.
Contoh makanan berkarbohidrat yang tinggi serat:
Mesej Utama 4: Makan Hidangan Tidak Bergoreng dan Tanpa Santan Setiap Hari
Seterusnya, lauk -pauk di Malaysia begitu sinonim sekali dengan jenis lauk -pauk yang bergoreng menggunakan minyak yang sangat banyak iaitu menggunakan kaedah ‘deep -frying’. Makanan bergoreng dengan minyak banyak yang digunakan secara berulang – ulang dan makanan yang mengandungi jumlah santan yang tinggi boleh meningkatkan masalah kesihatan seperti masalah jantung, darah tinggi, kolesterol dan kanser.
Justeru, pengambilan makanan dengan cara masakan dan kandungan santan yang tinggi seperti masak lemak, kari, gulai, dan masakkan bergoreng hendaklah dihadkan.
Cara mengantikan pengambilan minyak dan santan dalam masakan dan makanan:
Mesej Utama 5: Makan Makanan yang dimasak di Rumah Lebih Kerap
Makanan yang dibeli di luar secara amnya mempunyai kandungan gula, garam, sos, kicap, perasa, dan monosodium glutamate (MSG) yang tinggi, ia juga kebanyakannya menggunakan kaedah memasak yang kurang sihat iaitu dengan cara menggoreng dengan minyak yang banyak dan berulang- ulang.
Kandungan makanan yang tinggi garam, gula, sos, kicap, perasa dan MSG boleh menyebabkan tinggi risiko kepada masalah kesihatan seperti diabetes, dan juga darah tinggi.
Selain daripada itu, pengambilan makanan dari luar juga seringkali mempunyai jumlah porsi yang tidak mengikut spesifikasi suku – suku separuh, hal ini menyebabkan individu lebih cenderung untuk makaan secara berlebihan dan mendapat lebih risiko untuk menjadi obes.
Cadangan hidangan harian di rumah:
Rujukan:
The liver is the organ located in the upper right side of
the abdomen, just below the diaphragm. It is the largest internal organ of the
human body. The main roles of liver include removing toxins from the body,
processing food nutrients, and helping to regulate body metabolism.
However, there are certain conditions that prevent liver from performing its vital functions including, accumulation of fat in the liver, misuse of alcohol, viral infection, iron or copper accumulation, toxic damage, and cancer.
Signs and symptoms of liver diseases
Certain types of liver disease such as non- alcohol fatty liver disease have no symptoms at all. For other liver conditions, the most common symptom is jaundice. Jaundice develops when the liver cannot clear a substance called bilirubin in the body hence making skin and the white eyes area appear yellowish.
Other symptoms include abdominal (belly) pain, bruising easily, changes in the color of the urine and stool, fatigue, nausea, or vomiting, swelling in the arms or legs (edema).
Once notice any of these symptoms it is best to seek immediate medical attention.
Causes of liver diseases
There are many causes of liver disease such as hepatitis virus infections, alcohol related liver disease, toxic effect from medication or/ and herbal medications, autoimmune disease, and congenital abnormalities such as accumulation of iron and copper in the body, or some rare enzyme disorders.
Diagnosis of liver diseases
Liver disease is diagnosed using several tests, including physical examination, medical history such as diet, consumption of alcohol, exposure to hepatitis infection, previous blood transfusions, tattoos, and family history of liver disease.
Other than these, blood test will also be conducted to test the levels of liver enzymes, jaundice, and the protein production capability of the liver.
Ultrasound scan of the abdomen (belly) will be conducted to check liver for abnormal lumps and assess fluid accumulation. Other scan including CT scan, MRI, and biopsy, a small piece of liver tissue is removed and examined under microscope in a laboratory to confirm the diagnosis will all be conducted in giving the precise diagnosis.
Treatment of liver diseases
Treatment depends on the cause of liver diseases, but among usual would be to avoid alcohol and any drugs that might damage the liver, consumption of well balance diet, consumption of prescribed medication to manage the disease and periodic removal of blood to bring iron levels down to normal in patient with haemochromatosis.
As for liver cancer, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, or liver transplantation are the usual treatment given. In the case where liver is failing, liver transplantation are the usual treatments for liver cancer.
References
Fatty liver disease is a condition that affects obese and overweight people. Fatty liver disease means that you have fat inside your liver, which can affect liver functions and cause liver injury over time.
Fatty liver disease can be divided into two types. Individuals with just fat but no damage to the liver is referred to as Non – Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), whereas individuals with fat in the liver and signs of inflammation and liver cell damage, is called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
NAFLD is a silent disease with few or no symptoms at all, however you are at risk of having NAFLD if you are:
a. Obese or overweight individuals.
b. Have type 2 diabetes.
c. Have high blood pressure.
d. Have metabolic syndrome (combination of diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity).
e. Over the age of 50.
f. Smoker.
Symptoms of NAFLD includes:
a. A dull or aching pain in the top right of the tummy (over the lower right sides of the ribs).
b. Excessive tiredness.
c. Unusual weight loss.
d. Weakness.
Doctors use blood test, imaging test, and liver biopsy to diagnose NAFLD and NASH and to differentiate these two.
NAFLD, on the other hand, usually does not cause any harm in the early stages, but as it progresses, it can cause serious liver damage, including cirrhosis, if it worsens.
Currently, there is no specific medication that can be used to treat NAFLD, but recommended treatments are usually associated with managing current risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol.
Among lifestyle modifications that are highly suggested for NAFLD are losing weight by consuming a healthy diet, limiting processed, sugary and salty foods, exercise regularly, stop smoking, and cut down on drinking alcohol, though NAFLD is not caused by alcohol consumption but, it is advisable to cut down or stop drinking alcohol to not make it worse.
References
The liver is the body's largest organ. It is located in the upper right abdomen, just below the diaphragm.
Among the most essential functions of the liver are:
With all these functions mentioned, it is extremely important to take care of the liver as it carries various functions in the body.
With all these functions mentioned, it is extremely important to take care of the liver as it carries various functions in the body.
Here are some tips to take care of your liver’s health:
For hepatitis A and B, it is best to get vaccination.
For hepatitis B and C, which can be transmitted by blood and other bodily fluids, practice safe sex to prevent it.
For hepatitis A, which is spread through contact with contaminated foods or water, frequent hand washing and the non-sharing of cutlery are vital.