Tips for a healthy lifestyle Healthy Living Habits....DIETFIRE.NET

Tips:

• Eat three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner); it is important to remember that dinner does not have to be the largest meal.
• The bulk of food consumption should consist of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk products.
• Choose lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts (with emphasis on beans and nuts).
• Choose foods that are low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars; look at the labels because the first listed items on the labels comprise the highest concentrations of ingredients.
• Control portion sizes; eat the smallest portion that can satisfy hunger and then stop eating.
• Snacks are OK in moderation and should consist of items like fruit, whole grains, or nuts to satisfy hunger and not cause excessive weight gain.
• Avoid sodas and sugar-enhanced drinks because of the excessive calories in the sodas and sugardrinks; diet drinks may not be a good choice as they make some people hungrier and increase food consumption.
• Avoid eating a large meal before sleeping to decrease gastroesophageal reflux and weight gain.
• If a person is angry or depressed, eating will not solve these situations and may make the underlying problems worse.
• Avoid rewarding children with sugary snacks; such a pattern may become a lifelong habit for people.
• Avoid heavy meals in the summer months, especially during hot days.
• A vegetarian lifestyle has been promoted for a healthy lifestyle and weight loss; vegetarians should check with their physicians to be sure they are getting enough vitamins, minerals, and iron in their food.
• Cooking foods (above 165 F) destroys most harmful bacteria and other pathogens; if you choose to eat uncooked foods like fruits or vegetables, they should be thoroughly washed with running treated (safe to drink) tap water right before eating.
• Avoid eating raw or undercooked meats of any type.

Tips for special situations:

• People with diabetes should use the above tips and monitor their glucose levels as directed; try to keep the daily blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible.
• People with unusual work schedules (night shifts, college students, military) should try to adhere to a breakfast, lunch, and dinner routine with minimal snacking.
• People who prepare food should avoid using grease or frying foods in grease.
• People trying to lose weight (body fat) should avoid all fatty and sugary foods and eat mainly vegetables, fruits, and nuts and markedly reduce his/her intake of meat and dairy products.
• Seek medical advice early if you cannot control your weight, food intake, or if you have diabetes and cannot control your blood glucose levels.

Natural Acne Scars Remedies - Common Sense Prevails

Natural Acne Scars Remedies - Common Sense Prevails
 by: Robert taylor

DIETFIRE.NET
Natural Acne Scars Remedies - Common Sense Prevails

Acne is one of those things that everybody seems to get at one point or another, and yet nobody really likes it. While some cases are mild, other cases are quite severe and can lead to visible scarring. So, not only do these people have to suffer through a bad outbreak of acne, they then have to live with the scars for the rest of their lives. Or do they? The answer to that is no they don't, or at least they can try any number of acne scars remedies that will minimize the scars that are there. Not all of these treatments will work the same on everybody, but they are worth trying if it means you can feel better about yourself.

One of the best known remedies for acne scars is citrus juice. You can apply the juice of a lemon or lime directly to the problem areas. However, some people find that pure citrus juice irritates their skin, so you may want to try different dilutions until you find the one that's best for you. Apply it once or twice a day for several weeks and see how much lighter your scars look. It can take quite a while, but if it just doesn't seem to be working for you, then you can try other acne scars remedies.

A lot of people swear by olive oil for making their acne scars less visible. In fact, there are any number of different oils that you can try. Simply massage the oil into the scar and the surrounding area, and let it sit. This helps to soften and moisturize the skin which can help diminish the visibility of acne scarring.

Here's a natural remedy for acne that you may not be familiar with: tomatoes! That's right. Tomatoes are high in Vitamin A which keeps the body from producing too much sebum, which is the substance that is largely responsible for acne to begin with. Tomatoes are also rich in antioxidants which are beneficial for repairing the skin.

One of the most soothing acne scars remedies is a mixture of rose water and sandalwood. Simply add a few drops of the rose water to the sandalwood until it is at a paste like consistency. Then put the resulting paste directly on the scars and let it sit for about an hour. This is generally very gentle on the skin, so you can even leave it on as you sleep.

You have to be more careful if you are currently experiencing an acne outbreak, as you shouldn't let any foreign material (such as any of the above ingredients we've talked about) get into the sores. Not only can it be irritating, but it can also make the acne worse. However, if you need immediate comfort, you may want to try an icepack to help cool and temporarily tighten the skin.

While a lot of people have found success with the above acne scars treatments, you should always consult with a qualified medical professional before doing anything that has to do with your health.

Healthy Eating Habits for Your Child Healthy Living Today

Healthy Eating Habits for Your Child DIETFIRE.NET

By teaching your children healthy eating habits, and modeling these behaviors in yourself, you can help your children maintain a healthy weight and normal growth. Also, the eating habits your children pick up when they are young will help them maintain a healthy lifestyle when they are adults.

Your child's health care provider can evaluate your child's weight and growth and let you know if your child needs to lose or gain weight or if any dietary changes need to be made.

Some of the most important aspects of healthy eating are portion control and cutting down on how much fat your child eats. Simple ways to reduce fat intake in your child's diet and promote a healthy weight include serving:

• Low-fat or nonfat dairy products
• Poultry without skin
• Lean cuts of meats
• Whole grain breads and cereals
• Healthy snacks such as fruit and veggies

Also, reduce the amount of sugar sweetened drinks and salt in your child's diet.

If you are unsure about how to select and prepare a variety of foods for your family, consult a registered dietitian for nutrition counseling.

It is important that you do not place your overweight child(ren) on a restrictive diet. Children should never be placed on a restrictive diet to lose weight unless a doctor supervises one for medical reasons.

Other approaches parents can take to develop healthy eating habits in their children include:

• Guide your family's choices rather than dictate foods. Make a wide variety of healthful foods available in the house. This practice will help your children learn how to make healthy food choices. Leave the unhealthy choices like chips, soda, and juice at the grocery store. Serve water with meals.
• Encourage your children to eat slowly. A child can detect hunger and fullness better when they eat slowly. Before offering a second helping or serving, ask your child to wait at least 15 minutes to see if they are truly still hungry. This will give the brain time to register fullness. Also, that second helping should be much smaller than the first.
• Eat meals together as a family as often as possible. Try to make mealtimes pleasant with conversation and sharing, not a time for scolding or arguing. If mealtimes are unpleasant, children may try to eat faster to leave the table as soon as possible. They then may learn to associate eating with stress.
• Involve your children in food shopping and preparing meals. These activities will give you hints about your children's food preferences, an opportunity to teach your children about nutrition, and provide your kids with a feeling of accomplishment. In addition, children may be more willing to eat or try foods that they help prepare.
• Plan for snacks. Continuous snacking may lead to overeating, but snacks that are planned at specific times during the day can be part of a nutritious diet, without spoiling a child's appetite at meal times. You should make snacks as nutritious as possible, without depriving your children of occasional chips or cookies, especially at parties or other social events.
• Discourage eating meals or snacks while watching TV. Try to eat only in designated areas of your home, such as the dining room or kitchen. Eating in front of the TV may make it difficult to pay attention to feelings of fullness, and may lead to overeating.
• Encourage your children to drink more water. Over consumption of sweetened drinks and sodas has been linked to increased rates of obesity in children.
• Try not to use food to punish or reward your children. Withholding food as a punishment may lead children to worry that they will not get enough food. For example, sending children to bed without any dinner may cause them to worry that they will go hungry. As a result, children may try to eat whenever they get a chance. Similarly, when foods, such as sweets, are used as a reward, children may assume that these foods are better or more valuable than other foods. For example, telling children that they will get dessert if they eat all of their vegetables sends the wrong message about vegetables.
• Make sure your children's meals outside the home are balanced.Find out more about their school lunch program, or pack their lunch to include a variety of foods. Also, select healthier items when dining at restaurants.
• Pay attention to portion size and ingredients. Read food labels and limit foods with trans fat. Also, make sure you serve the appropriate portion as indicated on the label.

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Protein and Healthy Living Today

  Protein  DIETFIRE.NET

We need protein for the building and repairing of tissue in our body. Protein-rich foods also include essential minerals, such as iron, magnesium, zinc, as well as B vitamins.

Douglas Paddon-Jones, PhD, Associate Professor, The University of Texas Medical Branch says that proteins should make up about 20 to 25 percent of our nutritional intake.⁴

The following foods are good sources of protein:

Tofu, an example of a plant sourced protein.

• meat
• poultry
• fish
• eggs
• beans
• nuts
• quorn
• soya (includes tofu)

Nutritionists advise that the fat in meat should be trimmed and drained away after cooking. The skin should be removed from poultry.

For people who are not vegetarians, nutritionist advise we consume fish at least twice a week, preferably fish rich in omega oils, such as trout, fresh tuna, sardines, mackerel and salmon.

The canning process of tuna removes the essential oils, hence only fresh tuna is considered as an oily fish.

It is better for your health to grill, roast or microwave meats and fish, rather than frying them.

Vegans, who do not eat any foods from animal sources, may get their protein from nuts, seeds, soya, beans and quorn. Vegans may have to supplement their zinc and B12 vitamin intake as these foods are not rich in them.

Whole grains for Healthy Living Today

Whole grains   DIETFIRE.NET

According to the USDA (United States Dept. of Agriculture)², we should consume at least 3 ounces of whole grains per day. A whole grain, unlike refined grains, still has the bran and the germ attached. Whole grains are rich in fiber, minerals and vitamins. When grains are refined the bran and germ are removed.

It is not possible to know whether food is made from whole grain just by looking at it.

To be really sure you have to read the label. In the list of ingredients, the word whole or wholegrain needs to appear before the name of the grain.

Whole grain products include breads, pastas and cereals - they need to be made with 100% whole grain.

Whole grain foods and flours include 100% whole wheat, brown rice, bulger, corn, buckwheat, oatmeal (oats), spelt and wild rice.

Why Should You Purchase a Glass Juicer? Healthy Living Habits

Why Should You Purchase a Glass Juicer?
 by: Kenny Tan    DIETFIRE.NET

There are several shapes and sizes of juicers in the market. These kitchen appliances may vary in appearance, but they have only one function - to extract juice from fruits or vegetables. If you are the type of person that is always on the go, a good juicer is a staple in your kitchen. You can still receive the great benefits of natural vitamins and minerals by gulping down fresh juice every day. This kitchen tool definitely gives you convenience in juicing, as well as excellent effects to your health.

When choosing the type of juicer to purchase, you should consider several points. If you want something handy yet performs well in juicing, you might like glass juicers. There is no doubt on the lightweight and handy features of this type of juicer. These are small and weigh less than the power juicers in the market. Because of the handiness of these juicers, you can bring them anywhere. If you are going on a trip to the beach or a picnic, it is easy to take a glass juicer with you. With this juicer, you can make fresh juice anytime you want and anywhere you are. In addition, you can use this juicer conveniently because it does not require electricity or battery. The ridged centre extracts juice easily, and it only requires your effort to produce a lot of juice - up to the last drop.

A glass juicer comes with a wide base that has a capacity of two cups. It has a spout and a handle that lets you pour out the content in a container, with much ease. You get to enjoy a delightful and nutritious drink; and you can even share the other cup with a friend. You can also rely on the durability and solid construction of this juicer. This comes with 100 percent thick glass that will not easily get chipped or break into pieces. With proper care and maintenance, this juicer will definitely last for several years.

This type of juicer is also hygienic. It does not contain lead or any harmful chemicals, unlike those made from plastic. It is also easy to clean a glass juicer; you can simply wash it under a faucet or in a dishwasher, just like how you normally wash your other dishes. You can be sure that no residue stays in the juicer. Moreover, there are no parts that need disassembling during clean up. Because this juicer comes in one piece, you will definitely have more efficiency and no hassle in keeping it clean and bacteria-free.

If you are fond of drinking fresh citrus juice every day, you will definitely love this type of juicer. In fact, a glass juicer is only perfect for oranges, lemons and grapefruits. With a glass juicer, you get to make fruit juice anytime - without any hassle at all. This kitchen tool may be simple, but the numerous benefits and affordable price make it a good buy.

Acupuncture As A Remedy for Back Pain...Healthy Living Habits

Acupuncture As A Remedy for Back Pain
 by: David A Griffiths    DIETFIRE.NET

If you suffer from back pain you probably would not consider acupuncture as a treatment until you have exhausted many other alternatives. However, acupuncture is a type of ancient Chinese medicine that's been around for over 2,500 years and throughout this time it has been used for back pain relief, increasingly so in these modern times.




While it is not traditionally a part of western medicine, nowadays your doctor is quite likely to send you for this treatment if you are suffering from back or neck pain either persistantly or due to accident or injury.

If you are going to have this therapy you may want to know a little about how it works. The general belief is that the body has 20 energy flow patterns called meridians or pathways. Through these pathways it is thought that the life force or vital energy flows, this is known as the qi (it is pronounced chee) and is considered to be essential to maintain good health. There are over 2,000 points on our bodies that connect with these pathways and it is at these points which the hair-thin needles are inserted, this is done in varying specific combinations depending on the treatment required. These actions are believed to either correct the flow of qi or to reinforce it.

Even though it cannot be proven that this works as a type of pain relief, it is thought that as a result the central nervous system is stimulated. Most patients say that they get a pins and needles sensation on the insertion of the needles and indeed into the duration of the treatment, which usually lasts about 15 to 30 minutes. Some people report that they feel energised or even very relaxed so it appears as if the effect can be is somewhat different depending on the individual.

The acupuncturist will use up to 20 metallic needles during a treatment session and the depth they are inserted is dependent upon the area, deeper muscular or fatty areas need more penetration and the scalp for example would be just below the surface. The practitioner may turn the needles one way or another depending on what they are trying to achieve, in my personal experience they were turned on insertion, then again about half way through the treatment. At no point is the treatment painful, there is a mere sensation of the needles going in and they do not feel sharp at all, this is because unlike needles used for injections, an acupuncture needle’s tip come to a smooth point without sharp edges. They are also very thin, about 20 times thinner than a hypodermic needle. In my experience the most troublesome part of the treatment is lying in the same position without moving for up to 30 minutes, especially if you suffer from back pain or similar.

Although there are many medical experts who believe acupuncture is an effective way to treat certain conditions such as back pain, there is no true consensus. Some adhere to the theories of qi and meridians whilst others attribute acupunctures’ benefits to the biological changes that are brought about in the body as a result of treatment. Needless to say there will always be the sceptics who deny that acupuncture has any effect at all, but in my opinion if you are suffering from ongoing back pain it is certainly worth trying.

About The Author David A Griffiths has extensively researched upper back pain relief and contributes to a good many online resources to assist sufferers.

What do you know about Vodka? Healthy Living Habits

What do you know about Vodka?
 by: Dean Winchester   DIETFIRE.NET

When you think about vodka you think about just hanging out with friends and having a great time. It is the time when people get together to share well times and create new memories. This is flavored drinks and cocktail hour.

Different Types of Vodka




Drinking vodka means that you have choices and options to the type that you are going to have. There are Russian vodkas, neutral vodka, flavored vodka and regional touch. With all of the brands of vodka that you have to choose from you may want to try them all to find a favorite. This can be especially tricky when you start looking at the vodka flavors that you have to choose from. The best vodka type is going to depend upon your taste. One that you may like to try is vodka red. The red vodka brands are special all on their own.

Popular Brands to Try

Perhaps you have seen brands other than Absolut when it comes to vodka but you may be undecided on trying something new. You can look at a vodka review to get an idea of which ones you may want to try so you can get an idea of what else is out there. A few are SKYY, Smirnoff and White Diamond. All great choices but, you are going to find that Absolut will rank number one and a little lower on the list is Stolichnaya. Again, good vodka does not need to be expensive as they are all a distilled drink.

Prices of Vodka

When you start to look at vodka prices you are going to notice that they can go from very cheap to very expensive. A vodka bottle can go from $20 or less (depending on the size and brand) to $60 and over. If you are looking to try something new you may want to check out a review to an idea on one that is expensive. That way you can make a decision on whether or not you want to even give it a chance.

Popular Vodka Drinks



Even if you do not like the taste of vodka on its own, you may like many of the mixed drinks that it is made with. It is even possible that you have a favorite and did not even know that vodka was in it. There are many vodka cocktails such as the salty dog, sex on the beach, screwdriver and even black Russian. Perhaps you have found your own vodka recipes that you like to create. These are a few of the more popular drinks that have people coming back for more. If you are worried about the calories in vodka than know that there are 64 to a shot and 69 in the flavored. Vodka mixes and vodka mixed drinks are going to be the ones that have the most calories in them.

A Few Facts

In the early 1800’s, vodka made its appearance and it did not take long before it became a household name. The brand of Absolut has its very own Hollywood Star and they support different functions and national sponsorship. Although they advertise drinking they are also about supporting the community and promoting safe drinking.

How to Make a Perfect Grilled Chicken

How to Make a Perfect Grilled Chicken
 by: Angelica Florin  DIETFIRE.NET

Grilling can be a fun, family activity during weekends. Spend your lazy afternoons in your backyard, and take out those grillers for a grilled chicken for your dinner.

Learning how to grill is not as hard as you would see on television. All you need is the proper temperature for your griller especially if you are using an electric grill. Nevertheless, if you have the conventional griller, try to find some dried wood or charcoal. Ignite the coals or wood by placing crumpled papers below each coal and then set the papers on fire. Do not pour gasoline on the coals or dried wood. The smoke coming from the coals will give a gasoline-like aroma to your grilled meat. These are your best weapons in grilling.

Choose the best part of the chicken. I usually use chicken thighs and legs since they are the fattiest parts of the chicken. These parts will yield a juicy, barbecued chicken. Although these may sound unhealthy, the taste is incredibly delicious. Some would still prefer grilling chicken breasts with the skins on.

Before you start grilling your chicken, do not forget to marinate them at least overnight. Yes, overnight. This is because the longer you marinade your meat, the better absorption of flavors happens. I prefer to use store-bought marinades as these save much preparation time in the kitchen. The downside of most ready-made marinades is their high sodium content. But if you have time, you can make your own marinade from scratch. In the recipe below, the marinade and the chicken were simmered together to speed up the process of grilling and also to let the flavors marry together. I like Asian-style marinades such as this:






For every kilo of chicken:

½ cup light soy sauce (available in the Asian section of grocery stores)

2-3 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice

4 tablespoons brown sugar

1 medium stalk of lemon grass (pounded)

3 cloves crushed garlic

1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)

Combine all the above ingredients in a heavy skillet and let it boil for two minutes. Add in the chicken and simmer for another five minutes. Drain the chicken in a colander and reserve the marinade for basting during grilling. Basting is necessary so that the chicken won’t dry out. The marinade can also be made as a sauce by making a basic roux. This is simply done by placing a tablespoon of butter on a non-stick pan and let it cook for minutes. Pour over the marinade and whisk until the sauce thickens. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings accordingly.

You can also opt to make a dry, rub marinade. This dry rub is comprised of herbs and spices and a little oil. For chicken, dried or fresh tarragon and rosemary blends together very well. If you want a spicier, grilled chicken, add a pinch of chili powder and cayenne pepper. There are limitless marinades for grilled chicken. A little imagination and creativity are the keys. Make sure that when grilling the chicken, never let the flame flare up. This will result in burnt chicken. This does not appeal both to the eyes and to the palate. If this occurs, sprinkle a little water over the flame. Some also like their grillers to be covered during the grilling process.

Personally, I liked mine uncovered. There is just something about the smoke which is, for me, the essence of grilling. Grilled foods are best served warm, right off the grill with some salads or other vegetables of your choice.

Where to Find Affordable Popcorn Makers

Where to Find Affordable Popcorn Makers
 by: Timothy Wooledge   Dietfire.net

Popcorn is a wholesome snack. That is when you do not put too much salt or fatten it up with greasy butter. This is why, it is a incredibly good notion to invest on your own popcorn popper. When you adore this snack and you see oneself buying it continuously, then you'd be much better off making your own at home. This would guarantee that you would use the healthier oil and you do not load it up with too much flavoring. Fortunately, popcorn makers are fairly inexpensive specifically if you know the proper places to look. Here are some tips on where to look for inexpensive popcorn machines.




Discount Stores

One of the first places where you’d look for affordable popcorn makers would be in discount stores. As the name suggests, these are stores that sell products at much lower rates. They either sell brand-less items or phased out models. When looking for discount stores in your vicinity, check for quality and reputation. Ask about what shops have credible reputation and are popular for selling high quality merchandise. You need to save funds but you don’t want to wind up with a poor quality popcorn machine. You need to strike the balance between quality and price.

Garage Sales

Yet another excellent spot to search is at garage sales. You will find often plenty of garage sales held within your neighborhood or nearby residential places. That’s because folks keep on moving to new houses. You will often discover popcorn machines getting sold by household owners because these are too bulky to pack. You are able to have a chance to look upon a brand new and good quality popcorn machine in a garage sale if you are savvy enough. Make sure you examine the device cautiously as you do not would like to bring home something that does not function anymore. Do not forget to haggle with the cost at the same time. Some household owners would just like to get rid of their items without having too much concern concerning the cost.

On the net Retailers

A lot of people would need to agree that this is the greatest option among the 3. On-line, you will get affordable rates along with the perks of convenience and quick shopping time. That’s mainly because you'll be able to browse through hundreds or even thousands of possibilities with just a number of minutes or hours in front of the pc. The reason on-line retailers lower their cost is as a result of the stiff competition plus the truth that they have lesser overhead expenses to pay for. Bare in mind though that you can find some dangers in on the net shopping that you will have to be cautious about. For one, look for a reputable online shop that sells only the highest quality products. Then inquire about its security method. Purchase only from a store that's equipped with a secure transaction program so you do not bother about putting your credit card information in jeopardy. Spend ample time shopping around. Do not buy from the very first store which you see as you will discover plenty of possibilities on the net. Compare rates thoroughly and study the terms and conditions before having a purchase.

Tips for Finding a Good Long Term Care Facility

Tips for Finding a Good Long Term Care Facility
 by: Seth Molton     Dietfire.net

What is an ideal long term care facility? Various answers cropped up from the aged who, after all, make up a big percentage of the recipients of caring services in the USA and elsewhere for that matter.

Most men and women in their retirement years still prefer to be cared for by their children right in the comforts of their homes. However true, there are some individuals accustomed to their independence and would rather be under the care of nursing institutions or retirement communities.

Living with your children and opting for the services of a nursing home or an assisted living facility have its advantages, but you shouldn’t discount the fact that each also has its downside.

For instance, home care will ensure you’re well taken care of because your kids or other relatives will be present 24/7 to assist you in all areas of activities of daily living (ADL),such as eating, bathing, using the toilet, dressing up, and performing house chores among others. Unfortunately, you cannot count on them to administer medications especially if you have a serious health condition because they are not trained professionally on the medical or nursing field.

Those who can afford to pay a professional would prefer home health care and, thus, hire a licensed nurse or medical practitioner to look after them, and attend to their medical needs. However helpful this is to a patient, studies done on long term care show that the government will not shoulder the expenses of caring services performed in one’s home except if the reason behind it is medical.

Meanwhile, patients with low to no income are an exception in the eyes of the government. So even if the reason for their home care is nonmedical, the government will definitely consider paying the home care services that were provided to them.

Cost of Long Term Care

Your budget for long term care will depend on your choice or type of long term care facility. If you will opt for home care or home health care, you will not spend as much as you would in a nursing home or assisted living facilities.

Besides your budget, however, your health condition is also an important factor to consider when choosing a caring facility. At home, your medical equipment is probably limited to the basic such as a sphygmomanometer, thermometer, weighing scale, and perhaps a nebulizer. Unfortunately, these are not enough to address very serious conditions like heart diseases, cancer, respiratory problems, and many others that require complete medical facilities.

Apart from the fact that licensed nurses and therapists are employed by nursing homes and assisted living quarters, these places are equipped with the necessary medical facilities to constantly monitor the progress or deterioration of your health condition.

In 2010, it was recorded that a nursing home in America roughly cost $200 a day. That made an annual cost of $73,000, which a retiree had to fork over from his savings account. Investing in a pension plan could have saved him a chunk of his hard earned money.

About The Author Visit CompleteLongTermCare.com to find more resources on long term care. Learn how to choose the best long term care facilities, including costs and accommodations.

New Apple Ingredient Discovery Keeps Muscles Strong!
 by: Michael Clonts    Dietfire.net

Natural Component of Apple Peels Found To Help Prevent Muscle Weakening

In search of an effective method to prevent muscle wasting that comes with illness and aging, researchers have located a natural compound that is very promising.

The findings reported in the June issue of Cell Metabolism (a Cell Press publication), identify a natural component of apple peels known as Ursolic Acid as a promising newnutritional therapy for the widespread and debilitating condition that affects nearly everyone at one time or another.

"Muscle wasting is a frequent companion of illness and aging," explained researchers from The University of Iowa, Iowa City. "It prolongs hospitalization, delays recoveries and in some cases prevents people going back home. It isn't well understood and there is no medicine for it."

The research team first looked at what happens to gene activity in muscles under conditions that promote weakening. Those studies turned up 63 genes that change in response to fasting in both people and mice and another 29 that shift their expression in the muscles of both people who are fasting and those with spinal cord injury. Comparison of those gene expression signatures to the signatures of cells treated with more than 1300 bio-active small molecules led them to ursolic acid as a compound with effects that might counteract those of atrophy.

"Ursolic Acid is an interesting natural compound," they said. "It's part of a normal diet as a component of apple peels. They always say that an apple a day keeps the doctor away..."

The researchers next gave Ursolic Acid to fasted laboratory subjects. Those experiments showed that ursolic acid could protect against muscle weakening as predicted. When ursolic acid was added to the food of normal subjects for a period of weeks, their muscles grew. Those effects were traced back to enhanced insulin signaling in muscle and to corrections in the gene signatures linked to atrophy.

The subjects given ursolic acid also became leaner and had lower blood levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides. The findings therefore suggest that ursolic acid may be responsible for some of the overall benefits of healthy eating.

"We know if you eat a balanced diet like mom told us to eat you get this material," the researchers explained "People who eat junk food don't get this."

It is not yet clear whether the findings will translate to human patients, but the goal now is to "figure out if this can help people." If so, they don't yet know whether Ursolic Acid at levels that might be consumed as part of a normal diet might or might not be enough.

Journal Reference:

mRNA Expression Signatures of Human Skeletal Muscle Atrophy Identify a Natural Compound that Increases Muscle Mass. Cell Metabolism

About The Author Michael Clonts is the owner of the LMC Health Shop. He provides quality weight loss management, nutrition supplement, and multivitamins for supporting a healthy better you. He wants you to trust that you are putting the finest quality multivitamins, health and nutrition supplements, and weight loss products available into your body.