DNA and Diet

It is hard to believe it, but it’s true, if you choose foods that are appropriate to your genetic makeup then the susceptibility of getting disease may decrease and in turn the ability to perform will increase at your optimal genetic potential.

Every one has a same set of genes in the body that are essential for life and have encoded information which is translated into proteins. However there are slight variations among all individuals and this genetic variation can affect the protein encoded in each gene. The aspect of genetic variation is very important as it will affect the nutrient requirements between individuals, risk of a person getting a disease and influences of environmental factors on a person’s gene.Days will soon go where a diet is based on ones body metabolism

Days will come where a diet is provided according to ones genetic makeup and dietary lifestyle. The main concept is to replace the foods that have negative effects on the body to the healthy ones like saturated fats and trans fats replaced with healthy fats that promote cholesterol breakdown. (For example eating oats or whole cereals and pulses over fried chips, cheese or meat streak).

Nutrigenomics is the term used for the study of genes and nutritional requirements. This gives us an idea of how food components interact with genes or how some gene variant information can be translated to the food choices to be made. The aim is to study the effect of a nutrient at a genetic level and prescribe diets according to ones genetic makeup. Basically like other fad diets, there is no such diet called as a DNA diet, but one of the environmental factors that is food has influence on our genes. It is important to match a particular food according to an individual’s gene variation. Once this concept is clear, it will benefit an individual to perform better and lower the risk of getting diseases. Some food component like bioactive components may interact with certain type of genes. For example certain proteins may be completely digested by some genes; where else some genes may be unable to digest wheat proteins or other nutrients, in turn increasing the need of some nutrients in the body. Some genes may aggravate the inflammatory conditions in the body but this effect can be diluted by choosing the correct type of food in correct amounts.

Although the concept of DNA and diet is little complex and at a very preliminary state at the moment, it shows promising results in the coming decades. More research and through homework of dietetic professionals is required in developing this field.

Caffeine

Its not coffee that makes people so much easier to deal with after they wake up, it’s the caffeine.

The first rule for many people about talking in the morning is a simple one. “Wait until I’ve had my coffee!” Caffeine is a metabolic stimulant that rouses the body’s central nervous system causing an increase in awareness, frontal lobe functions and heart rate. Although it is legal and widely used at all ages, caffeine is a drug. Since it stimulates the nervous system, excessive consumption of caffeine may lead to problems like insomnia or sleeplessness.
Caffeine is taken every day by millions of people across the world.

Caffeine is found in various beverages like coffee, black and oolong tea, cola soft drinks, energy drinks, and chocolate. It is used so prevalently that major industries and some nations would be ruined if caffeine consumption stopped or decreased dramatically. There’s no real danger of that, however. Most people not only like caffeine, they are addicted to it.
Apart from our nervous system, caffeine does affect our intestine as well. If a person is having diarrhea, consumption of caffeine may aggravate the problem.

The human body gets used to the effects of caffeine on the central nervous system and adjusts by creating more receptors to accommodate the drug. This change in the body is called adaptive tolerance and causes the central nervous system to depend upon caffeine being added to the system. When people stop using caffeine for a period of time the body goes through symptoms of withdrawal such as irritability, sleepiness, lack of concentration and sometimes biochemical depression. When the drug is introduced back into the body’s system the symptoms disappear within 45 minutes.
Caffeine adds a number of positive things to our daily life. It helps us get through the day motivated and alert. Because it activates the frontal lobe area of the brain, some studies have concluded caffeine not only promotes increased awareness but also better memory retention when combined with focused thought. Caffeine has been used as a chemical additive to migraine medications and has been hypothesized to prevent some forms of heart disease, like coronary heart disease in non-hypertensive patients. Many over-the-counter pain relievers add caffeine to the drug to increase the effectiveness and speed up the body’s response to the medication.
In moderation caffeine is a good part of our daily lives. However, there are some side-effects and concerns raised by the use and overuse of caffeine. Used in large amounts over a significant period of time caffeine can cause chronic insomnia, respiratory problems and heart palpitations. The increased production of stomach acid caffeine produces can cause ulcers or other stomach problems. Caffeine is a diuretic, which can lead to dehydration if other liquids are not also consumed.
While it is a myth that caffeine can stunt the growth of children, too much caffeine is harmful to children. Foods and beverages containing caffeine, which has a slightly bitter taste, are often sugared leading to an increase in childhood obesity, hyperactivity, and behavior problems.

Children’s bodies experience the same level of adaptive tolerance as adults, making the withdrawal from caffeine very painful. As more energy drinks are marketing to children and young adults, an increase in caffeine dependency among those age groups is expected to rise.
No one who wakes up groggy and sleepy while needing to get ready for work would argue that caffeine is not without benefits. However important considerations must be taken to ensure the amount of caffeine introduced into the body is done in moderation. For millions of people each day as long as there is coffee in the pot or tea in the kettle, there will be something to talk about.

Mesothelioma Nutrition

For those who don’t know what mesothelioma is, it is a rare cancer that affects the chest, abdominal cavity and the heart.

If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma there are some important steps one must take in order to get the best nutrition their body needs when they are stricken with mesothelioma. When it comes to mesothelioma nutrition it is key to know what your body needs before and after any type of treatment you decided to undergo. One must make decisions in making sure they are getting the essential and vital ingredients in a well balanced diet. They must make sure their diet consists of vitamins, minerals, protein, fat, water and carbohydrates.

These all play a part in sustaining your well being when diagnosed and being treated for mesothelioma.Though one must remember when undergoing treatment for mesothelioma, having a mesothelioma nutrition diet is hard to keep. Especially when your body has gone through severe or moderate treatment. It makes it difficult for anyone to have an appetite let alone any energy to maintain any type of diet. Another factor that plays in, is the way your body reacts to any food intact.

As well your body starts to change due to the disease it self. From weight loss, fatigue hair loss, sickness and any other ailment. It is still important to up keep your body with key components of providing with your body with rich content food and vitamins. When it comes to mesothelioma nutrition one must make sure they getting twice the amount of protein and fatty acids. This due to the fact your body weight has decline and your energy intake has become low and you are more prone to sickness. One must continue to keep his or her body up to pare during treatment of mesothelioma. You do not want to face complications because of lack of nutritional intake. It is important to keep a list of foods and vitamins that you need to supply your body with. It is vital to keep a progress sheet of your intakes, how weight you gained and lost, as well as any other important factors. When dealing with mesothelioma, one must remember that their diet differs from others. Each food and any diet supplement they take will effect their body differently. One must also take into consideration is how their body will react to changes to their diet.

As each person is different when it comes to adjusting their meal intake. All this has to do with the treatment of mesothelioma and the progression of mesothelioma. One should have a nutritionist that deals with mesothelioma patients that way you will get the benefits and nutrition intake you need. By having a nutritionist on hand they will help you in the progress of having a mesothelioma nutrition diet plan that can benefit you in the long run.