THE BRIGHTEST HUB FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Normal Cholesterol Levels in the Blood

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Cholesterol
Space-filling model of the Cholesterol molecule (Wikimedia Image)

Cholesterol is a steroid alcohol found in all the cells of our body. It is usually mistaken as fat because it appears waxy but in truth, it is considered as an alcohol. It is needed by our cells in order for them to function well.  Our body uses cholesterol to make various hormones, vitamin D, and certain substances that aid the body for proper digestion. Cholesterol can be found in some of the food we eat.

The levels of cholesterol in our body show an overall picture of our health. Although this is not used for diagnosing diseases, it is useful in determining current and long term risks of heart attacks and strokes.

For better understanding of cholesterol, we must bear in mind that although it is a vital component of cells, uncontrolled levels of it is detrimental to our health. To give us a more vivid illustration, think of blood as water and think of the cholesterol as oil. And when these are put together, they obviously do not mix. In order for the cholesterol to pass through the bloodstream, it must be carried by small packages that are medically known as lipoproteins. As their name implies, lipoproteins are made up of fat (lipo/lipid) and  protein. There are two types of lipoproteins that transport cholesterol throughout our body:

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol

We commonly call this type of cholesterol as the bad cholesterol. We can also call it as the lousy cholesterol for better recollection (L=LDL ; L=lousy). The normal value is less than 100 mg/dL (milligrams of LDL cholesterol per deciliter of blood). Continued high levels of blood LDL cholesterol lead to the buildup of cholesterol that attach on the walls of the arteries, called plaques. These plaques eventually block the bloodstream or in other cases, get dislodged and flow along the bloodstream and impede circulation once it gets stuck on smaller blood vessels. The higher the level of lousy cholesterol is, the greater is the risk of developing a heart disease. Avoiding a diet with high carbohydrates and processed foods is a great way of decreasing LDL levels.[ad#co-1]

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol

We call it as the good cholesterol. For easy recollection, we can call this the happy cholesterol (H=HDL; H=happy). A good cholesterol value of greater than 39 mg/dL indicates a healthy heart. HDL cholesterol is  the kind of cholesterol we want to keep elevated. It has the task of carrying cholesterol from all over our body back to the liver where it would be processed for excretion. The higher the level of happy cholesterol is, the lesser is the chance of having a heart disease. Eating more saturated fats and proteins, and eating fewer carbohydrates will increase HDL levels.

The following also appear on a routine lipid profile and are noteworthy to be discussed:

Triglycerides are fats in the blood that are being stored and burned for fuel or energy. The normal value should be less than 150 mg/dL. High levels of triglycerides indicate that the body is not using them for fuel. Coronary artery disease has been linked to high triglyceride levels in the blood. Therefore, to avoid this disease, triglyceride level should be decreased. A diet low in carbohydrates and fats can dramatically decrease triglyceride levels.

Total Blood Cholesterol is a measure of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and other lipid components of the blood. The recommended value should be less than 200 mg/dL.

Conclusion

It is important to have normal levels of both LDL and HDL cholesterol to keep the body healthy and free from risks of getting cardiovascular diseases as well as other complications. Decreasing our cholesterol levels also decreases the dangers of plaque build-up. A high blood cholesterol level does not usually manifest symptoms of the condition unless it has accompanying diseases. That is why regular lipid profile examinations are advisable. Do not hesitate to approach your physician when results show abnormalities. Or better yet, have a lifestyle check. Don’t wait for your cholesterol results to deviate from the normal values before you live a healthy way of life.[ad#afterpost]

How To Heal Scars Naturally

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Minor scar
A minor scar from a cut to the forearm, approx. one year since the wound. (Wikimedia Image)

I can only imagine the embarrassment you might be putting up with each time someone asks you if your father is a carpenter, because he can see those huge “nail heads” on your legs. Do not give up hope, there has got to be a way on how to eradicate those scars without costing you so much.

Scars, being a result of the healing of wounds, are an austere part of our life. Most wounds result to a certain degree of scarring. Scars can be caused due to accidents or skin conditions like pimples. These marks can be erased with the help of some natural ingredients.

Natural Ways of Healing Scars:

  • Aloe Vera Juice– This natural ingredient can greatly help in erasing scars. Just rub it on your skin at least twice a day. You can see a conspicuous improvement in a few days’ time. Apply it incessantly on your skin until your scars disappear.
  • Garlic– Raw garlic rubbed on the affected part of the skin many times a day is beneficial for healing scars naturally.
  • Vitamin E oil or capsules– These are recommended for healthy and vibrant skin. Applying Vitamin E oil can heal scars. Within a few weeks of the application of vitamin E oil, scars can vanish.
  • Blanched tea– This is also a great alternative in curing scars. Take a cotton ball, soak it in blanched green tea and then dab it on the scar.
  • Olive oil or tea tree oil– You apply either kind of oil on your scarred skin, either one can also diminish the traces of acne scars naturally.

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  • Mint leaves– Crushing a few mint leaves and tying them in muslin cloth to extract the juice helps in lightening the traces of your scars. Apply it all over the face to eliminate scars.
  • Ice– This can also help reduce scars. Application of ice on the face will definitely decrease the burning sensation and inflammation associated with acne scars.
  • Lemon juice– This has been known to be the classic way to get rid of scars effectively and naturally. Apply lemon juice on the scar using a cotton ball, twice a day, until the scar disappears. A freshly cut lemon, when rubbed on the skin, can help make it clear and healthy.
  • Cocoa butter– Another gift of nature than can also be helpful for healing scars naturally is the cocoa butter. You can apply cocoa butter daily for maximum efficacy.
  • Topical honey– This is by far the best way to eliminate scars everywhere in your body effectively. This has been used for centuries to heal wounds and burns. It should be applied several times in a day for its healing benefits. Due to its antibacterial properties, honey can completely remove scars within a few months of use.

All those natural ingredients plus a little massage therapy on your scars can guarantee you, maybe not immediate, but visible results over time. Fret no more. You can rely on what nature has to offer when it comes to getting rid of your scars. Topical creams do not completely get rid of scars, yes, not as advertised! If none of these ways help, it might be best to see a dermatologist so you can get a professional advice. In the meantime, it does not hurt to try any method or natural ingredient mentioned above to alleviate the awkwardness brought about by the presence of those ugly scars. You should also keep in mind that caring for your wounds as early as possible can also help eliminate the possibility of the appearance of scars.[ad#afterpost]

The Differences Between Lytic and Lysogenic Cycle

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Lytic and Lysogenic cycles
Lytic cycle, compared to lysogenic cycle (Wikimedia Image)

What is a virus?

Viruses are among the simplest organisms on Earth. They are invisible to the naked eye as their size ranges from 20-400 nanometers, 10-100 times smaller than a bacterium. They are made up of at least one protein and a single- or double-stranded nucleic acid enclosed by a protective protein covering called capsid which contains enzymes that allow them to enter their host cell. Their genome is contained in their nucleic acid which may either be a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) but never both. Because of this, the type of their nucleic acid became the basis of their major classification: DNA viruses and RNA viruses.

Viruses can be considered living and non-living. Non-living in the sense that they  are acellular (not made up cytoplasm and organelles) and cannot carry out basic biological functions such as growth and replication on their own. In order to reproduce, they need to enter a host cell (a bacterium), thus, viruses are obligatory parasitic in nature. While outside a host cell, they remain in a state of dormancy where biological processes are arrested. But once inside their host cell, they replicate at a very fast rate, hence they become ‘living’ entities.

Viral Reproduction

There are two cycles in viral reproduction, the lytic cycle and the lysogenic cycle. The former is considered the main mode of reproduction which eventually leads to the disruption of the host cell thereby releasing viral progeny ready to infect other cells. The latter on the other hand can occur without causing harm to the host cell.

A virus that uses a bacterium to replicate is called a bacteriophage. Bacteriophages can be further classified into two based on the process they use to reproduce. Those that go through the lytic cycle to replicate are called lytic bacteriophages while phages that replicate by means of the lysogenic cycle are called Temperate phages. Lytic phages are named so because at the end of their replication, they lyse or disrupt their host bacterium. Temperate phages in contrast can replicate by incorporating their DNA into their host’s DNA without causing bacterial lysis.[ad#co-1]

Lytic Cycle

This cycle consists of 5 stages – Adsorption, Penetration, Replication, Maturation and Release. A sixth stage called Reinfection can also be part of this cycle.

When a bacteriophage infects a bacterium, T4 for example, it attaches itself to the bacterium’s cell wall using its tail fibers. The protein on its tail fibers enables the virus to recognize and attach itself to specific receptor sites in the bacterial cell wall which includes lipopolysaccharides, teichoic acids, proteins or even a flagellum. The specificity and compatibility of the bacteriophage’s attachment to its host as determined by the type of receptors limit the type of host cell for the bacteriophage. This just means that there are only certain bacteria that can be infected by a particular bacteriophage.

After attachment, the T4 phage releases an enzyme that weakens the cell wall of its host. The weakened area becomes the spot where the phage injects its DNA into the bacterium. Once inside the host, the phage starts to take over its host as it makes great amount of viral proteins and genetic materials (DNA or RNA). The replication in T4 phages specifically involved three phases of mRNA production followed by protein production. When there are enough viral components synthesized, assembly into complete viruses immediately follows. In the case of T4 phages, the protein coded by the phage DNA acts as enzymes for the assembly of new T4 phages. Finally, an enzyme that weakens the host’s cell wall is then released and later on, lysis or disruption of the host bacterium occurs, releasing the newly formed T4 phages.

Lysogenic Cycle

As in the lytic cycle, lysogenic cycle begins with the phage’s attachment to the cell wall followed by the injection of the phage’s genome into its host. However, unlike lytic bacteriophages, temperate bacteriophages do not shut down their host cell. After the genome is injected, it becomes integrated into the host’s DNA and is now called a prophage (phage’s genome incorporated into the bacterial DNA). Since the phage’s genetic material is added with that of the host, it is also replicated when the host cell replicates its DNA and divides. Thus, the viral genetic material is transmitted to bacterial daughter cells at each consequent cell division. The prophage can be cut out from the host’s genome by external factors such as ultraviolet radiation. After being removed, it replicates and produce viral components which ultimately leads to lysis of the host cell.

Differences of Lytic and Lysogenic Cycle

Both the lytic and the lysogenic cycle are means in which a virus reproduce. The main difference of these cycles is that in the lytic cycle, bursting or destruction of the host cell inevitably occurs whereas in the lysogenic cycle, the phage can replicate without harming their host. Another noticeable difference between the two is the number of phages produce after every cycle. More are produced in the lytic cycle whereas there are only 2 in the lysogenic cycle as a result of cell division. Also, the resulting products of the lysogenic cycle can further undergo lytic cycle when triggered by external factors such as radiation. But those that undergo lytic cycle follows each stage until the end solely without any diversion or alternative process from the lysogenic cycle.[ad#afterpost]

Examples of Natural Selection

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Natural Selection

Charles_Darwin_aged_51
The modern theory of natural selection derives from the work of Charles Darwin in the nineteenth century. (Wikimedia Image)

The theory of evolution presented by Charles Darwin in his book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection (1859) is one of the most controversial and revolutionary concepts in the history of humanity. It changed how we perceived the world and the belief that God created everything around us in seven days as presented in the Bible was consequently put into question.

Darwin’s theory holds that all the living things around us are related. It states that a common ancestor in the distant past gave rise to the diverse life we see and that through time, several phenotypic modifications occurred enabling organisms to cope up with the ever changing environment.

Natural selection is a major driving force in evolution. According to Darwin, it has four components – Variation, Inheritance, Population Growth and Differential Survival and Reproduction. In order for natural selection to operate, organisms in the population must show variation in their characteristics. The differences in size, shape as well as color for example can give others an advantage over the rest, and thus those with more favorable traits survive to pass on their genes to the next generation. And as more offspring are produced, the rate of competition for resources increases considerably and struggle for existence occurs wherein the less suited are weeded out and the fit survive.

The Examples

Industrial Melanism

One of the most common examples of natural selection is the industrial melanism that occurred in England during the Industrial Revolution. This phenomenon affected over 70 species of moth and was most studied among the Biston betularia (peppered moth). Prior to 1800, the typical peppered moth prevalent in the area was the lighter-colored variety. As the industrial age progressed, pollution became an increasing concern as more soot collected and accumulated on rooftops, walls of buildings, leaves and tree trunks. As a result, the lighter-colored peppered moth appeared more visible against their darker background allowing predators to see them easily. The increased risk of predation caused a decline in their number and later on drove them away from the city. On the other hand, the condition became more favorable to the rarer dark-colored peppered moth. After several decades, it was observed that the darker variety became more prevalent in industrial areas since the darker environment caused by soot accumulation ensured their safety against predators.

Finches’ Beaks

During Darwin’s voyage in Galapagos Islands, he noticed that the beaks of finches varied from island to island. In his book (On the Origin of Species), he hypothesized that starling-like birds came to the Galapagos, evolved, and various groups resorted to different diets. He reasoned out that as birds reproduced, their food source became limited. As  a result, each species needed to compete with one another in order to survive or to change their diet and resort to other food resources. As it happened, the shape and size of their beak changed over time in response to the type of diet they are into. The warbler finch for example has a thin, sharp beak appropriate for spearing insects while the cactus finch posses a long, pointed beak useful for picking seeds out of cactus fruits. Ground finches on the other hand have a shorter, stouter and stronger beak best suited for eating seed from the ground.

A study by researchers at Harvard Medical School found out that a protein called calmodulin controls the shape of the finches’ beaks by binding and activating enzymes capable of turning certain genes on and off. This study revealed that calmodulin is associated with longer beaks since higher levels was expressed among cactus finches as compared to those of the more blunt-beaked ground finches.

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Sickle Cell Trait

This is a heterozygous condition in which the gene of a person coding for hemoglobin has a recessive allele that codes for Hemoglobin S instead of the normal Hemoglobin A. This type of hemoglobin which occurs in people with sickle cell anemia causes the red blood cells to sickle. The sickle-shaped RBC give them smaller area to bind oxygen, thereby reducing the blood’s capacity to deliver oxygen throughout the body. Although considered a disorder, the sickle cell trait became advantageous to people living in places with high incidence of malaria such as Africa. The precise mechanism of sickle cell’s resistance to malaria hasn’t been fully understood yet but several factors had been cited by researchers to explain its defensive properties against the disease.

RBC in people with sickle cell trait do not sickle considerably at normal oxygen levels. But if infected with Plasmodium palcifarum, the RBCs sickle significantly as the parasite reduces the oxygen tension during its metabolism. The deformation of these sickled cells make them abnormal and thus targeted by phagocytes found in the blood stream for destruction. In vitro experiments also found out that infected RBCs sickle more readily compared to uninfected cells. And as these abnormal cells are removed from the blood, the burden of carrying P. falcifarum is reduced thereby increasing the survival of patients against malarial infections. Further studies also show that infected sickle cells incubated at low levels of oxygen tension could lead to slower growth rate, proliferation and even death of P. falcifarum as a result of extensive vacuole formation and oxygen radical formation such as  superoxide anion and hydgrogen peroxide.

Deer Mouse’s Coat

Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) got their name from their two-toned or bicolored coats that resemble that of a white-tailed deer. The dorsal coat is usually dark which varies from reddish brown to grayish to allow them to blend to their habitat and evade predatory hawks and owls. In contrast, most of the deer mice found in Sand Hills, Nebraska posses a pale coat. A recent study conducted by researchers at Harvard University and the University of California investigated the difference in coat coloration of deer mice found in Sand Hills and those that thrive in dark-soiled areas. The scientists found out that the light colored-coat is coded by a gene  called Agouti where it is expressed at a higher rate in deer mice living in Sand Hills. Furthermore, the researchers discovered that the Agouti gene appeared in the mouse’s genome just a few years after the then dark colored mice settled in the area. Because of this, the researchers deducted that the light-colored coat coding gene wasn’t in their genome  before their colonization. The trait developed from a new gene which waited for a mutation to happen and then natural selection took action and increased the newly evolved gene’s frequency in the population.[ad#afterpost]

References

Natural Cures For Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

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Home remedies can be very effective in dealing with excessive blood loss during menses.

Sanitary napkin
Sanitary napkin (Wikimedia Image)

Though it’s a biological process representing reproductive years of a woman’s life, society has always looked down upon menstrual periods. In fact, in many cultures women undergoing menses are not allowed inside religious places or near cooking areas because they are termed to be unclean.

Women also dread their periods because of extensive mood swings, stomach aches, weakness and sometimes heavy bleeding. In fact, heavy bleeding hassles certain women so much that they feel extreme discomfort and weakness due to loss of blood. Heavy periods can give rise to various complications which if not treated instantly can turn disastrous.

Young girls who have not started ovulating properly or pre-menopausal women are the two groups at maximum risk of heavy bleeding but any woman of child-bearing age can be susceptible to it. Overweight women, those on blood thinners and those with certain hereditary disorders are mostly likely to experience heavy bleeding.

Every woman undergoes a menstrual flow once in 20 to 30 days for a period of four days losing 30-40 ml of blood. However, for women prone to heavy bleeding the period may run up to a week which means prolonged blood loss of around 80 ml.

In fact, sometimes bleeding is so excessive that they have to change the sanitary napkins every two hours. Fortunately, there are natural cures for heavy menstrual bleeding which can help you evade the monthly hardship.

Set your diet right

Before you go further, get your food plate in right order. It is believed that due to high amount of toxicity in the body, women suffer from heavy bleeding during periods.

Have a balanced diet with lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grain cereals to detox the body. Avoid sugar, saturated fat, packaged or tinned food and refined cereals besides strong spices.

Controlling blood flow

Banana flower is one of the best natural cures for heavy menstrual bleeding. The flower can be cooked and consumed with one cup of curd to perk up the amount of female hormone progesterone which helps check bleeding. Coriander seeds boiled in half a liter of water and little sugar can also treat excessive menstruation. Juice of fresh mango bark given with white of an egg and small amount of kernel of a poppy is an effective cure against heavy blood loss.

Bark of Ashoka tree boiled in milk and water can be another treatment for this condition. Around 90 g of the tree bark is boiled with 30 ml milk and 360 ml water and the mixture is given in two to three doses within 24 hours. The mixture can be given daily from fourth day of the period.

The herb rough chaff has also found to be good in case of heavy bleeding. Around 15 g of rough chaff can be mixed in 250 ml of water to be taken for this condition.

Other treatments

Parsley juice is well known as one of the best natural remedy against disorders related to menses. Containing apiol, an ingredient of female hormone estrogen, parsley helps in regularization of periods. The effect of parsley can be noticed as cramps due to irregular periods are relieved. Ginger is another good remedy to deal with irregular periods. Minced ginger can be boiled in a cup of water to form a mixture to be taken after meals.

Sesame seeds can also be an effective cure. Taken with hot water, half a teaspoon of sesame seeds powder can lessen pain and when taken two prior to periods, it can help deal with insufficient menstruation.  Unripe papaya also helps in the same manner by contracting muscles of the uterus.[ad#afterpost]

Health Benefits of Rosemary Tea

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Drinking tea made with rosemary leaves can serve your health well.

Rosemary (Wikimedia Image)

Rosemary is one of the most beneficial herbs to have originated from the Mediterranean region. However, due to its ability to adapt to all kinds of weathers, it can be found in several other regions of the world as well.

Such have been the health benefits of rosemary, especially its ability to improve memory, that several cultures use it as a sign of remembrance on occasions like weddings, funerals and war commemorations. In fact, those studying for exams also used to place a twig or two of the herb in their hair but the effects of such a practice on the functioning of their brains have not been researched.

The herb has been in use as a cooking and medicinal ingredient to treat several physical ailments for centuries. In fact, physician Paracelsus also popularized the use of rosemary tea as a body tonic in the 16th century. The health benefits of rosemary tea have now been scientifically proven and it has been found to be a pain reliever besides being rich in beneficial antioxidants and vitamins.

The tea can be easily made by boiling dried leaves of the herb in water. Drinking around three cups a day can relieve indigestion and congestion.[ad#728-90 after post]

High on health

Rosemary is high in Vitamin A, B, C, D, E and K. Its antioxidant properties help prevent neurological problems which can lead to brain dysfunction. This is why rosemary tea is beneficial for those suffering from or at risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Drinking this tea also helps the digestive tract and can be a great help for those suffering from difficult- to-cure irritable bowel syndrome. Rosemary encourages the release of bile which leads to better digestion of fats and hence alleviation of intestinal cramps and spasms. Besides irritable bowel syndrome, alleviation of bloating indigestion and flatulence are other health benefits of rosemary tea.

The tea has also been found beneficial for those having regular menstrual cramps, amenorrhea and arthritis. The mild analgesic properties of rosemary tea can relieve headaches and fever while it can also increase blood circulation to fight rheumatism, infection and indigestion.

Add it to your bath tub

It is an approved treatment to kill bacteria that cause infection and to soothe aching muscles. Gargling or bathing with rosemary tea can be beneficial too since it has great antiseptic properties and also improves blood circulation to soothe sore muscles and calm skin irritations. Applying a cloth soaked in rosemary water can help heal wounds and treat various skin disorders including eczema.
However, those suffering from hypertension or insomnia and pregnant women should take their doctor’s advice before ingesting rosemary concoction because it can be unsafe for them.[ad#afterpost]