Animal Diseases are still not under control

Animal disease does not spread further north. The end of the epidemic of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in Paris and throughout France remains uncertain. According to the latest data from the Paris Department of Agriculture, as of March 7, 4,002 livestock farms were affected across the country, compared to 3,708 farms officially on January 3. However, the spread of the disease is noticeably slowing down. As in January, at the moment the disease was detected in 20 departments.

The northernmost exclusion zones continue to cover Brittany, so EHD has not penetrated further north into Belgium and Germany in the past three months. However, the epicenter of the epidemic remains in the departments of Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées, which border Spain. The first cases of EHD in France were reported there in September 2023.

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease EHD

This viral disease of ruminants is clinically indistinguishable from bluetongue. It is also transmitted by mosquitoes (biting insects). The disease is not dangerous for humans.

Typical symptoms of the disease are sudden high fever, lethargy and reluctance to eat. Bloody diarrhea may occur. In white-tailed deer, the disease is usually fatal (up to 90 percent). Basically the same animal species are at risk as for bluetongue.

Cattle are the most affected livestock, with clinical symptoms indistinguishable from those of bluetongue. The disease can cause significant production loss, especially on dairy farms. Sheep and goats can also be infected, but rarely show noticeable symptoms.

What to do?

Protect ungulates from mosquitoes as much as possible. Vaccines against the disease are not approved in Switzerland. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease EHD is an animal disease that should be monitored and therefore reported. Cases of outbreaks and suspicious signs must be reported to the cantonal veterinarian.

The current international situation.

-> Radar Bulletin February 2024

Additional information.

-> Technical information on EHD epizootic hemorrhagic disease

All information mentioned comes from the Federal Office of Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (BLV).

What diet is best for my body?

Less should bring more – most people Diets work by reducing something eg Fett: or carbohydrates. Timing and persistence always play an important role. Because without him Nutrition and his Habits There is always room for change in the long run Diet without success.

Another point is as follows. Every body is different. As a result, not all diets are suitable for every body. We'll show you how to find a diet that can work for you and your needs.

Low carb diet. Low carb diet

This low carb diet especially suitable for you if you want to lose weight long-term and then maintain your body weight. Diet can help you manage your… to stabilize blood sugar levels and: Reduce food cravings. Besides. If insulin levels drop, fat burning is stimulated.

A look at your living conditions shows just a little exercise in your daily life, for example, you mostly work at a desk. A low-carb diet can fit well into your daily life and may hold promise for your weight loss. However, if you are physically active in your daily life and, for example, do intense sports, your body's need for carbohydrates will also be greater. In this case, a low-carb diet will be less suitable for you, because you should not completely miss out on urgently needed carbohydrates.

Good to know. Reduce from carbohydrates in the form of bread, pasta or even sweets and juice bottles, you should more healthy fats – eg vegetable oils and marine fish to do this Reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Protein in the form of lean fish and meat, eggs, milk and dairy products, and legumes are also very important.

A low-fat diet that's gentle on the body

Like the low-carb diet, this diet is especially good for you if you lweight in the long run Do you want to lose weight and then maintain your body weight? It pace However, weight loss can a little more moderate in this version, but it will gentler on your body. This diet can also help you stabilize your blood sugar levels and reduce cravings.

Please considerUnlike the classic low-carb diet, with this version, as the name suggests, you reduce fat as much as possible. You must distinguish between “good” and “bad” fatsFor example, avoid highly processed foods such as processed foods or butter, nuts and bacon and instead choose low-fat foods such as cottage cheese, low-fat fish, lean meats and lots of fruit and vegetables. One of the most important rules of this diet is that the foods you consume should contain no more than 30% fat. You should also only eat when you are actually hungry – and stop as soon as your body sends you the first signals of satiety.

Benefits: Although studies have shown that a low-carb diet caused subjects to lose more body fat, Statistically, a low-fat diet is more successful in the long run. Because it's easier to avoid fat than carbs. If you're also physically active, you don't need the carbs you need on a low-fat diet.

Dehydrate and lose body fat. Keto diet

This slightly more radical form of low-carb dieting has been proven to help Actually reduce weight. For example, if you have type 2 diabetes, the keto diet may hold promise for you because it can effectively reduce insulin resistance.

Thalia book tip. anti-inflammatory cuisine. finally with a healthy and tailored alkaline diet

Mainly. If you can manage to temporarily avoid carbs altogether and instead focus more on healthy fats and proteins, the keto diet can be very effective for you. Your body will then have to draw its energy from these healthy fats and proteins; This process is called ketosis, hence the name of the diet. During ketosis, your body processes fats into carb-like substitutes. through drainage and of course also through Distribution of fat reserves you can lose body fat.

Good to know. However, you are prone to hyperacidity.will be keto diet not recommended to you In addition to making this diet quite difficult due to the “invisible” carbohydrates that are present in many foods without our knowledge, this type of diet can also lead to hyperacidity.

Either way, it's important to stick to the keto diet limited period implement and first Consult your doctor save before starting.

Intermittent or therapeutic fasting instead of strict dieting

If your main goal is to lose weight and lose weight in a relatively short period of time without incorporating a lot of exercise into your daily life, and if you can avoid eating for a certain period of time every day, then these diets can be: right for you. But be careful. Zero diets are generally not recommended, as they can cause nutrient deficiencies. Intermittent or therapeutic fasting works differently. Be it the so-called 24-hour diet, 5 to 2 or 16:8-hour diet; you eat almost nothing for one or two days or 16 hours, and on other days (or hours); ) you can eat normally.



Good to know. It is also possible use clear soups and broths. This is how therapeutic fasting works, for example, instead of solid food, you can use liquids in the form of vegetable broths or fasting teas for a certain period of time.

Please note. So that's it Fasting only burns fat and does not cause muscle lossrequired Meanwhile, do some exercise every day. Nothing strenuous, walks, light exercise or even swimming are fine and more effective than you think. It is also important to slowly increase the duration of the fast. Just a few days at first, up to 10 days a week next time, and so on. After fasting, you need to make long-term changes to your diet and incorporate regular exercise into your daily routine. Otherwise, you will quickly regain the lost kilograms.

It doesn't just sound like a holiday, it's a Mediterranean diet

This form of diet not only looks festive, but also tastes fresh, light and delicious. This includes: no fixed meal plans, no calorie counting, and no exercise routines In addition. So, if you are looking for a diet where you don't have to starve yourself, but rather want to lose weight in a relaxed and healthy way over a longer period of time and, above all, explore the variety of pleasures of the Mediterranean region, this type of diet is the right choice for you.

Because. The Mediterranean diet is much more than a diet that focuses on abstinence, it is a healthy way of eating that can be sustainable and very tasty. Your menu features seasonal, freshly harvested foods that remind you of your last vacation in Italy or Greece; Salads with delicious olive oil, feta cheese and fragrant herbs, garlic pasta, fresh fish, fruits and vegetables.

Good to know. Many Studies have shown that this form of diet not only chealth promoting effects brings with it, but also Cardiovascular diseases minimized. So, if you are more of a foodie who wants to eat healthy and delicious in the long run, and also pay attention to your health, then you have found the right type of diet.

A lot of meat for the intestines. Paleo diet

Looking for someone? A diet high in meat and animal foodswhich also serves as a anti-inflammatory applies and Positively change the gut microbiome in the long term should, may be the hyped by many Paleo diet be the right diet for you.

Followers of this diet eat exclusively from foodwhich already eaten in the stone age became. The name of the diet comes from here. “Paleo” is the English abbreviation for the prehistoric period, also known as “Paleolithic” or “Old Stone Age”. If you eat a “paleo” diet, you can eat everything that people gathered, hunted, fished and collected thousands of years ago. Meat, vegetables, fruit, fish, seafood, and nuts are allowed, but grains, sugar, and dairy are prohibited..

It is important to know. This diet is quite difficult for vegetarians and vegans to followThe paleo diet is especially suitable for you if you like to eat a lot of animal fat. And. The Paleo diet includes many protein-rich foods on the menu, so it's important to eat high-quality meats, vegetables, and fruits. This can be costly in the long run, is not always easy to implement and is time consuming. Because. Anyone who eats a proper “paleo” diet eats only meat that has been raised species-appropriate and without additives.

Interested in nutrition and how it affects your body? Then you can find other similar articles here.

*Note: In the editorial team, we are always looking for useful products for our readers. The links provided in this article and marked with a shopping cart symbol or an asterisk are so-called affiliate links/advertisement links. If you click on or make a purchase through any of these links, we receive a commission from the retailer. This does not change the price for you. Our editorial reporting is fundamentally independent of the existence or size of the committee.

What Causes Horses to Shiver?

Things to know about Tremor Syndrome

Trembling has been known for over 100 years neuromuscular disease, the reason for which has not yet been clearly clarified. About five to eight such horses come to Bilsen's equine clinic each year, “but they're usually brought in for completely different ailments,” reports Dr. Dirk Pfister, head of the equine veterinary clinic in Bilsen, near Hamburg.

What causes shivering syndrome?

It is assumed that Infections disrupt the transition from the nerve to the muscles. Potential pathogens can Herpes or flu viruses to be Also neurological disorders may cause convulsions in the central nervous system. “Diseases of the facet joints of the thoracic spine, lumbar spine, or sacroiliac joint are also possible causes,” says Dr. Dirk Fister.

The facet joints are the small vertebral arch joints between the vertebral processes that connect the individual vertebral bodies to each other in addition to the intervertebral discs and spinal ligaments. However, it has not yet been proven that the disease is genetic and inherited, as is often believed. A genetic test for that Shivering syndrome does not exist.

A link to polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) has also not been proven. Veterinarian Dr. Stephanie Walberg of the American University of Minnesota in collaboration with the Canadian Veterinary College of Ontario Shivering syndrome Research found no evidence of this in a study of 103 Belgian cold-blooded animals; 6 percent of the animals suffered from both diseases.

Symptoms of tremors

Affected horses suffer in Muscle spasm of hind legs and have particularly Difficulty giving hoofs and: Walking backwards. This leads to problems with daily handling, hoof care and general grooming. Animals remain convulsive with legs half bent or drawn under belly when rear hoof is raised for scratching or shoeing. At the same time, they often raise their tails. through convulsion Such horses often give their legs involuntarily, which requires a lot of patience from the owner of the horse.

In very rare cases they do too Front legs affected, which are drawn forward as they ascend, whereas The muscles over the elbow tremble. Unlike houndstooth, the horses their hooves don't come off suddenly, but slowly when Attack complete (which can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes). In the advanced stage, some animals are no longer able to hold their legs up for long periods of time. Then shoeing and often even hoof trimming becomes almost impossible. Muscle spasm can also occur in the head and neck region. Then the eyelids blink rapidly and the ears twitch. It Symptoms: generally worse when the horse is excited.

cav-201902-hufkratzer-test-lir6170-v-amend (jpg)

Lisa Rudlane

Shivering horses often find it difficult to give their hooves.

the time Trip does it Illness less problems. Although many horses walk stiffly at first and sometimes stumble during their first strides, they usually break in quickly. Only the time Reverse direction Difficulties usually arise. “There are no symptoms under rider and stress unless the horse is running backwards. The skill Shivering horses “It's just bad,” says the vet. Horses can have problems with their balance when riding in a trailer.

The disease usually progresses very slowly but continuously. It Muscle spasm become more frequent and long-lasting, and later decrease The muscles in Rear parts. The horse's legs become stiff and the hindquarters become weak. The animal stands with its legs open. few horses cannot easily hold their feet for long periods of time. “Starting the first tremors until Muscle atrophy “But it usually takes years,” says Dr. Dirk Fister. He has never had a patient whose muscle weakness was so severe that the horse had to be euthanized.

Orthopedic problems and osteoarthritis of the spine, especially of the knee and ankle, can be mysterious consequences. Shivering disease to be From a medical point of view, Dr. Dirk Fister no restrictions in Use of sick horses example in sportas long as they give hooves only when squatting. Dressage horses However, it will limited reverse direction Value of points. “None of mine Trembling patients “I could no longer ride because of the disease,” says the vet.

Full article as PDF download

Causes, symptoms, treatment
Brown shivering horse looking back with hand at the racetrack
  • Things to know about Tremor Syndrome
  • the reasons
  • Symptoms:
  • Diagnose
  • Treatment
  • Proper prevention
  • With expert knowledge, Dr. Dirk Fister, Equine Vet and FEI Vet

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Protein in Lyme Disease May Aid in Fighting Tick-Borne Diseases

Published

Lyme diseaseAn unpleasant disease of ticks. the solution is in our sweat.

New hope in the fight against Lyme disease, a tick-borne infection. Protein can offer protection.

background
  • Ticks can transmit Lyme disease, among other things.
  • Now researchers have identified a protein that may offer some protection against it.
  • This protein is found in human sweat.

People who are bitten by ticks can contract Lyme disease. Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Helsinki have found that human sweat contains a protein that inhibits the growth of Lyme disease-causing bacteria.

Symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes or skin rash, and if left untreated, facial paralysis, heart arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat, nerve pain, and inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

Hope for therapy

A third of the population carries a genetic version of this protein, according to research published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications.

“This protein may provide some protection against Lyme disease, and we believe there are real implications for prevention and possibly treatment based on this protein,” said Michal Caspi Tal, a senior researcher in MIT’s Department of Biological Engineering. and one of the lead authors of the study. in the statement.

In Switzerland, ticks transmit these diseases

Swiss ticks are known to transmit Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). But according to a study by Swiss researchers, that’s only the tip of the iceberg. A team led by Patricia Schlagenhauf from the University of Zurich reports in the journal New Microbes and New Infections about other diseases that can be spread by ticks in this country: so-called rickettsioses, in people who have been proven to have been bitten by ticks. Its possible symptoms are fever and headache. They also encountered the pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which causes anaplasmosis. This disease can also cause muscle aches and headaches, as well as fever and nausea. “We were surprised there were so many,” Keystone-SDA news agency quoted Schlagenhauf as saying.

It has been known for several years that local ticks can also transmit Alonshan virus.

The protein inhibits the growth of bacteria

Scientists analyzed the DNA and medical records of 7,000 Finns who had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. They were amazed to find that a so-called secretoglobin, called SCGB1D2, suppresses bacterial growth.

In this study, the researchers identified normal and mutant versions of SCGB1D2 in Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.

The immune system fights bacteria

The researchers found that the normal form of this protein significantly slowed the growth of the bacteria, but twice as much of the mutated form was needed to achieve similar results. Mice exposed to the mutated form of the protein became infected with Lyme disease, while mice with the “normal” form of the protein remained healthy despite being exposed to the bacteria.

According to the scientists, this means that the mutated protein cannot protect the mice from disease, while the normal protein keeps them healthy. This was very exciting for scientists because it provided new insights into how the immune system fights bacteria.

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Does stress lead to metabolic disease?

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder with many possible causes. Studies show that psychological stress also plays a role.

High demands at work, time pressure or conflicts in personal life. there are many reasons why people get stressed. The reaction of the body is always the same. Pulse and breathing become faster, muscles tense, pupils dilate, while digestion slows. The body is on alert. What saved our ancestors’ lives when they were running from wild animals is now more of a health risk as chronic stress affects our metabolism. Professional Association of German Internists (BDI) warns. Blood sugar and blood pressure go up due to stress and can stay high. This can lead to cardiovascular disease, and chronic stress also plays a role in the metabolic disease diabetes.

Studies show that stress can trigger type 2 diabetes

An emphatic man in a blue shirt stands on the subway and touches his temples with his fingers (symbolic image).
Stress increases blood sugar levels. It is possible that long-term stress can even contribute to diabetes (symbolic image). © Westend61/Imago

Evidence of this is, among other things, a study by Tel Aviv University, in which 677 working women and men participated. For the study, the study authors used a questionnaire to check whether study participants were suffering from burnout, a chronic fatigue syndrome. In addition, the researchers looked at whether the subjects developed type 2 diabetes within three to five years. Participants with burnout were found to have a 1.8-fold increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, even after controlling for other risk factors for diabetes, such as age, sex, body mass index, smoking, and alcohol consumption. and physical activity.

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Also, the scientific group, Professor Dr. Karl-Heinz Ludwig from the Helmholtz Zentrum München was able to demonstrate the link between stress and the development of type 2 diabetes in two large studies (KORA and Monica). Both studies examined the health status of the population of Augsburg for more than 20 years. People with high levels of workplace stress had a 45 percent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, Ladwig said in an interview. Federal Ministry of Education and Research explained.

Stress can make existing diabetes worse

Scientists see this as evidence that stress is an independent risk factor for diabetes. Anyone who is constantly under mental stress should pay attention to their body, check their blood levels regularly, and exercise. Because physical activity helps prevent diabetes. It should be loud for 30 minutes German Diabetes Foundation daily at least. Exercise makes cells more sensitive to insulin, blood sugar is converted directly into energy, and blood sugar levels drop.

Even if you already have diabetes, it’s important to reduce stress. This is because stress activates the sympathetic nervous system (parts of the brain and adrenal cortex), which produces a number of stress hormones. Above all, cortisol, norepinephrine, and adrenaline. These hormones cause blood sugar and fat levels to rise and reduce the effect of insulin, making diabetes more difficult to treat. Therefore, it is especially important for diabetics to avoid stress or learn appropriate stress coping strategies.

For example, the following are suitable:

  • Autogenic learning
  • Breathing exercises
  • Mindfulness exercises such as “body scans”
  • Yoga
  • Pilates
  • Progressive muscle weakness

This article contains only general information on the relevant health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a doctor’s visit. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.

Who still requires HbA1c testing today?

Continuous glucose measurement has shown that for the same average blood sugar, the hemoglobin of different individuals can be glycated differently. The clinical implications of this finding are not yet fully clear.

HbA1C &  Diabetes

fovito/AdobeStock:

Glycated hemoglobin (HbA:1c:) has been used for many years to diagnose diabetes as well as to monitor the quality of therapy. Compared to fasting glucose determination, it has the advantage of reflecting longer-term glycemic control. However, in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), HbA also has disadvantages1c: is displayed. In particular, it does not always correlate with blood sugar levels with the same precision in all people. “We've known since the 1980s that anemia, hemoglobinopathies, kidney failure, and many other conditions affect HbA.1c: they have,” says prof. Earl Hirsch of the University of Washington Diabetes Institute. The relationship between CGM-assisted mean blood sugar and HbA was determined in 2008 as part of the ADAG study.1c: determined. What was remarkable was the large statistical variation, says Hirsch, who also points out that this observation has been confirmed in many other studies, and that people with conditions such as anemia or kidney failure were excluded from those studies.1: Hirsch:1c: have”.

This may include the erythrocyte survival time, which has varied by about 50% between about 40 and 60 days in studies of non-anemic subjects.2: Therefore, the term “estimated HbA” was used1c:Associated with the CGM and replaced by the Glucose Management Indicator (GMI).3: Deviation of measured HbA1c: varies from person to person and can be significant. In a group of more than 600 patients, half had HbA1c: and GMI were more than half a percent apart, and at 22% it was even a full percent.4:

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Diabetes Complications: A Weekly Magazine for Agriculture and Rural Life

Diabetes can easily be described as a common disease. About 8.7 million people in Germany live with type 2 diabetes and about 372,000 with type 1 diabetes. In addition, there are about 2 million people who still do not know anything about their disease.

Diagnosis is relatively easy, says Dr. Mynolf Behrens, diabetologist at the Minden Diabetes Center, before the rural women of the local association Minden-Porta-Oeinhausen. If the fasting blood sugar level is below 126 mg/dL, then it is diabetes. The result is usually confirmed by an oral glucose tolerance test. For this, the patient drinks a sugar solution. If after two hours the blood sugar level exceeds 200 mg/dL, then the diagnosis is confirmed.

Different types of diabetes

In healthy people, the hormone insulin, produced in the pancreas, regulates blood sugar levels. It ensures that sugar is transported from the blood into the cells. If the blood sugar level is too high, there can be various reasons.

Insulinmangel. The pancreas produces little or no insulin.

Insulin resistance. Although insulin is produced, it cannot work properly on the cells.

A combination of both is also possible.

Insulin resistance is commonly seen in adults, sometimes associated with insulin deficiency and thus type 2 diabetes. If diabetes develops in children or young adults, it is usually type 1 diabetes. The pancreas completely stops producing insulin. There are other, less common forms of diabetes, as well as diabetes during pregnancy, known as gestational diabetes.

Genetics as a possible cause

To date, it has not been clearly studied why diabetes develops in humans. Type 1 diabetes occurs spontaneously and can be caused by, for example, infections. In type 2 diabetes, lifestyle factors such as an unhealthy diet and too little exercise are often responsible for the disease. But that's not all. “Then we would have many more people with diabetes,” says the diabetologist. Genetics also play an important role. That is why the doctor warns against stigmatizing people with diabetes.

The tricky thing about diabetes is that it often goes unnoticed for a long time. If the classic symptoms appear, such as frequent urination, intense thirst or unexplained weight loss, the disease has often already caused initial damage. Over time, diabetes can lead to serious complications such as heart attacks, strokes, amputations, kidney damage, and blindness.

To prevent such damage, it is important to diagnose and treat diabetes early. Therapy is based on four pillars: nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, and medication. Nutrition is especially important. However, there are many, often conflicting, recommendations.

Simple recommendations

Dr. So Maynolf Behrens gives his patients four clear messages: eat

  • protein focused
  • low sugar
  • reduced carbohydrates and
  • modified fat.

To be more precise. A Mediterranean diet is recommended, consisting of about 20% energy from protein, 40% carbohydrates, and 40% fat, with high-quality fats being preferred. The doctor also recommends choosing mostly fresh, seasonal and regional foods. But he is also convinced that the diet should correspond to the patient.

Bring movement into everyday life

Movement also plays an important role. The following applies: at any age it pays to incorporate more exercise into your daily life. Dr. However, Behrens notes that people remove many opportunities for exercise from their daily routines. Robotic lawnmowers, electric garage doors, online shopping and online meetings ensure that people have to move as little as possible. “Take back your daily activities,” says Dr. Mynolf Behrens takes care of his patients. Above all, they need to reduce sitting time.

About 1 in 2 people with type 2 diabetes can be treated well with diet changes, weight loss, special training and exercise alone. If medication is also used, it is to pursue two goals: to prevent acute metabolic disorders and secondary diseases of diabetes. There are different drugs with different effects. They are used individually, in combination or together with insulin therapy.

Weight loss injection works

Many have high hopes for the so-called weight loss injection. There are various drugs on the market now. Depending on the active ingredient, they are injected about once a week and lead to a decrease in appetite. Studies show it works.

With Ozempic, a drug approved for diabetics and containing the active ingredient semaglutide, patients lose an average of 10% of their body weight. In the case of the drug Mounjaro or the active ingredient tirzepatide, it is even up to 20%.

However, there are currently major barriers to the supply of these products. They are also very expensive. While therapy with the most common diabetes drug metformin costs €0.20 a day, Mounjaro costs €12 a day.

And there is one more thing that Dr. Behrens. The products tested very well. But at present, no one can say for sure what the impact will be in ten years.

A sugar tax as an opportunity
While Germany is still considering introducing a sugar tax, nearly 100 countries have already introduced it. In Mexico, for example, a special tax has been levied for sweet drinks since 2014. Britain introduced a tax in 2018, which gradually increases depending on the sugar content of the drink. Some manufacturers later changed their recipes so that the drinks contained less sugar.
The study looked at the effect a sugar tax based on these models would have on people aged 30 to 90 in Germany. Accordingly, by 2043, it will be possible to avoid 132 thousand cases of type 2 diabetes through taxation according to the Mexican model. In the case of the British model, the number of diabetes cases may decrease by 244 thousand during the same period.

Read more:

New research suggests that a keto diet may slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Low carb, but that's it lots of protein and high-quality fats – this concept has become one in recent years Trend diet become a way to lose weight. Instead of using glucose from carbohydrates for energy, the body must be stimulated to switch to fat burning. This creates the so-called Ketones as breakdown products in the liver, which are used to produce energy.

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A more positive effect than previously thought

But they may not all be positive effects, as a new study from the University of California, Davis, shows. It shows that the ketogenic diet reduces the early stages of Alzheimer's disease Memory loss in mice was significantly delayed. Mice fed keto guidelines lived 13 percent longer like the others.

The memory loss in question is comparable to this mild cognitive impairment in humans, which precedes full-blown Alzheimer's disease. The study was published in the journal Communications Biology der Nature Group published.

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Alzheimer's disease can slow down

A new study that follows up on this research has found that the molecule beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) plays an important role in preventing early memory loss. On a ketogenic diet, it increases almost sevenfold.

The research team was quoted in a press release as saying they observed “amazing abilities of BHB.” This included improving the function of synapses and the small structures that connect all the nerve cells in the brain.

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Female mice gain more than males

Scientists gave mice enough BHB to mimic the benefits of a seven-month keto diet. They found that mice on a ketogenic diet had a significant increase in biochemical pathways associated with brain cell formation.

The keto diet also appears to benefit women more than men and has led to increased BHB levels in women. Quite an interesting aspect if the data is transferred to humans. Because women are more likely to suffer from Alzheimer's disease than men.

When nerve cells are better connected, memory problems improve with mild cognitive impairment. The conclusion is positive. “The data support the idea that the ketogenic diet in general, and BHB in particular, delays mild cognitive impairment and may also delay Alzheimer's disease.” The findings should be deepened in further studies.


Lowering Cholesterol: Five Mistakes and Three Tips to Do at Home if Your Levels Are Too High

Myth 1: If you have high cholesterol, you shouldn't eat fat or eggs

Fortunately, that's wrong. There are even fatty foods like nuts that can help lower cholesterol. Therefore, for former chancellor Gerhard Schröder and his wife, walnuts are on the breakfast table every day.

Other foods, such as toast or pasta, contain almost no fat, but are converted by the body into triglycerides (along with cholesterol, the most important fat in the blood), which can clog veins or are stored in adipose tissue. So a closer look is important.

The German Nutrition Association recommends limiting your daily fat intake to 60 to 80 grams of fat per day. In fact, Germans consume about 100 to 120 grams on average, are you starting from them?

This amount adds up quickly when you consider that a bratwurst with fries and mayo already contains 87 grams of fat. The recommended daily dose is already covered with one bar of chocolate and 100 grams of chips.

Goodbye, breakfast eggs?

Fortunately, we now know that's not true. Eggs are quite healthy because they contain high-quality proteins, fats and few carbohydrates. They also provide us with various vitamins such as A, D and B12, as well as folate, sodium, calcium and more.

Avoiding cholesterol-containing foods, such as eggs, is unlikely to change cholesterol values. However, the right amount of protein remains important.

Myth 2: Cholesterol is bad

Well, cholesterol has a really bad image. It is surprising for many. Cholesterol is necessary for life. The body needs blood fat to build cell walls, form vitamin D, and produce hormones such as the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone.

Too much, especially “bad” LDL cholesterol, is not good. Here we explain how you can find out what that looks like for you.

Misconception 3: Only medication can help with high cholesterol

Many people with elevated blood lipid levels are prescribed medication called statins by their doctor. At first it seems reasonable because their effectiveness has been proven by many independent studies.

However, more exercise and a change in diet should always precede medication. This means that costs can definitely be reduced and tablets may no longer be necessary.

If cholesterol levels are persistently elevated and other risk factors are present, drug treatment is often necessary. However, you should observe the following: statins increase the risk of diabetes because they can raise blood sugar levels.

Misconception 4: Cholesterol equals cholesterol

It is worth paying attention to the differences. Cholesterol is a blood fat found in… LDL: (low density lipoproteins) and HDL: (high density lipoproteins). About three quarters are produced by the body, the rest we get from food.

LDL is considered “bad” cholesterolTherefore, the cost should be low because: Elevated LDL cholesterol accumulates in the walls of blood vessels and leads to vascular calcification. As a result, the vessels narrow, less blood passes through, and the tissue is not sufficiently supplied with oxygen. Consequences include angina pectoris, heart attack, stroke or dementia.

On the other hand, a sufficiently high HDL value is favorable. It transports excess cholesterol from the vessel wall back to the liver to convert it into bile acid and excrete it.

Misconception 5: Those who are thin have low cholesterol levels

Not always. Contrary to popular belief, there are also overweight people with normal cholesterol and thin people with high cholesterol. The most recent example. the very thin wife of former chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who had higher cholesterol than her husband despite a healthy diet and now has it under control with exercise and a targeted diet.

So what could be the reason if a person is thin, eats healthy and still has extremely high values? High cholesterol levels can then be inherited, called hypercholesterolemia.

According to a Danish study, it affects about one in 300 people worldwide, but only 15 percent of those affected are aware of their disease and the risks associated with it.

Quick and easy tips for everyday life. How to keep your cholesterol under control

Tip 1: This is a good way to estimate your own cholesterol levels

To determine if you have high cholesterol, it is enough to measure your blood cholesterol level. For diagnosis, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, as well as triglycerides are examined.

One is considered cheap Total cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL and a LDL cholesterol level less than 115 mg/dL.

What is also worth it for you? Looking at the ratio of the two types of cholesterol to each other, the so-called LDL/HDL-Quantity. If there are no other risk factors, this value should be below 4.

Tip 2: You can keep your cholesterol under control with these simple dietary tips

Good to know. A balanced diet can have a positive effect on blood fat levels and other health risks such as high blood pressure, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Nutritional advice. what should be paid attention to?

  • Cut back on simple carbs like pasta, rice, potatoes, white bread or toast and choose whole grains, as they keep you fuller for longer and are good for your gut.
  • Be sure to include plenty of vegetables in your daily menu, low-sugar fruits such as dark berries are also suitable.
  • Top tip: Oats, such as rolled oats or oat bran. It contains valuable beta-glucan, which can help regulate cholesterol levels.
  • Proteins, but true. Low-fat dairy products, nuts or legumes 2-3 times a day, with an occasional egg, fish or meat is a good mix.
  • What people tend to overlook. hidden fats and sugars in ready meals and fast food; pay more attention to them.
  • The right fats even help lower cholesterol: flaxseed oil, olive oil, canola oil instead of butter or lard.
  • Walnut acts as a medicine. 1 small handful per day can lower cholesterol by 10-20%.
  • No sugary drinks such as sodas; Juices always as spritzers, low alcohol.

In addition to a proper diet, small tricks in everyday life can also help lower cholesterol levels in the kitchen.

  • Remove the pieces of fat from the meat and do not eat
  • It is better to buy low-fat dairy products and pay attention to the sugar in the ingredients
  • It is better to cook the food in the oven instead of frying it in a pan, this also saves fat
  • Use covered pans. this way you should consume less fat
  • Favorite trick: Add the food to the pan after the fat is heated, this way the food absorbs less of it.

And don't forget. it's all about movement.

You probably already guessed. diet is only one side of the coin. abstinence from alcohol, avoiding smoking, regular exercise and weight loss are other pillars on which a low cholesterol value is based.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 2.5 to 5 hours of physical activity per week, such as walking, swimming or cycling.