This is a bitter pill to swallow. Many cocoa products in the US contain concerning levels of toxic heavy metals, a new study from George Washington University warns. Many cocoa products in the US contain worrisome levels of lead and cadmium, a new study from George Washington University warns. Picture Partners – stock.adobe.com Researchers analyzed 72 cocoa-based foods — including dark chocolate, often praised as a heart-healthy treat — over eight years. They found that 43% of the products contained an amount of lead that tops recommendations, while 35% exceeded cadmium limits. Surprisingly, organic-labeled products had higher levels of lead and cadmium than non-organic products, the researchers said. Contamination can come from soil or occur during manufacturing. A single serving of these cocoa items may not pose significant health risks, but several servings might. Leigh Frame, director of integrative medicine at GW, led the testing of 72 cocoa-based products. The George Washingto...
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Potential early warning sign for autoimmune disease revealed
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Nightmares and hallucinations — or “daymares” — may be early warning signs for the onset of an autoimmune disease or a flare-up, new research shows.
“For many years, I have discussed nightmares with my lupus patients and thought that there was a link with their disease activity. This research provides evidence of this,” senior study author David D’Cruz, of King’s College London, said in a statement.
Three in five lupus patients reported experiencing disrupted dream sleep — a third of them said this symptom appeared over a year before the onset of the disease. TheVisualsYouNeed – stock.adobe.com
This study — published this week in eClinicalMedicine — focuses on lupus, a condition that can cause inflammation throughout the body. Researchers surveyed 676 people with lupus about the timing of 29 neurological and mental health symptoms such as depression, hallucinations and loss of balance.
The study authors interviewed additional lupus patients to find out how their symptoms emerged when their disease flared up.
Three in five patients reported experiencing disrupted dream sleep — a third of them said this symptom appeared over a year before the onset of lupus.
Nearly 1 in 4 participants revealed hallucinations, though for most of these people, the hallucinations did not occur until around the onset of the disease or later.
Hallucinations were often preceded by “vivid and distressing” nightmares — people were being attacked, trapped, crushed or falling. One person described their nightmares as “horrific, like murders, like skin coming off people.”
Nearly 1 in 4 participants revealed hallucinations, though for most of these people, the hallucinations did not occur until around the onset of the disease or later. LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS – stock.adobe.com
People were more reluctant to talk about their hallucinations until the researchers started referring to them as “daymares.”
“[When] you said that word ‘daymare,’ and as soon as you said that, it just made sense, it’s like not necessarily scary, it’s just like you’ve had a dream and yet you’re sitting awake in the garden,” one patient told the study authors.
“I see different things — it’s like I come out of it and it’s like when you wake up and you can’t remember your dream and you’re there but you’re not there,” they continued. “It’s like feeling really disorientated, the nearest thing I can think of is that I feel like I’m Alice in Wonderland.”
The study authors stressed the importance of clinicians recognizing these symptoms early to prevent misdiagnosis. There’s no cure for lupus, but symptoms and inflammation can be managed with medications and lifestyle changes.
“It’s important that clinicians talk to their patients about these types of symptoms and spend time writing down each patient’s individual progression of symptoms,” said lead author Dr. Melanie Sloan, of the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Cambridge.
“Patients often know which symptoms are a bad sign that their disease is about to flare, but both patients and doctors can be reluctant to discuss mental health and neurological symptoms, particularly if they don’t realize that these can be a part of autoimmune diseases,” she added.
Dolores Catania’s weight loss journey has been a matter of discussion and inspiration around the globe. Her 3-year-old story of shedding 25 pounds over 45 days is still heard and reflected upon to trace her ever-evolving weight loss timeline. Last year, in one of the interviews, the Reality star spilled the beans saying that dropping a few pounds was possible due to the consumption of Ozempic and Mounjaro — types of drugs prescribed by her medical professionals. Initially, Dolores weighed 157lbs and after losing 20-something pounds, she was 137lbs. Currently, she weighs 130lbs, however, her weight loss story doesn’t stop here. She has a goal to reach the lower 130s. Adding to that, she disclosed that she was down to 129 pounds and wished to hit somewhere between 120 to 125 lbs as recommended by her doctor considering her 5-foot-3-inch height. Who Is Dolores Catania? Dolores Catania is a renowned American Television personality, best known for her role in The Real Housew...
In our fast-paced modern world, having the ability to calm the mind is invaluable. By learning to control the breath and withdraw the senses with the practice of Tummo breathing you can tap into an inner stillness. Those who regularly practice Tummo often report feeling more centered, present, and in tune with themselves. Also known as “Inner Fire” meditation, Tummo helps ignite inner “heat,” burning away mental fog while energizing both body and mind. Our contributor Bayu Prihandito, Life Coach, and RYT 200 Yoga Teacher, says, “What we call the “inner fire” Tummo meditation, is known to increase mental clarity, focus, and reduce stress. With practice and patience, you can experience a heightened sense of peace from the ability to manage your emotions more effectively.” With roots tracing back centuries in Tibetan Buddhism, Tummo uses focused breathing and visualization to unlock deep states of relaxation and mental clarity. This Tibetan meditation technique is...
This is a bitter pill to swallow. Many cocoa products in the US contain concerning levels of toxic heavy metals, a new study from George Washington University warns. Many cocoa products in the US contain worrisome levels of lead and cadmium, a new study from George Washington University warns. Picture Partners – stock.adobe.com Researchers analyzed 72 cocoa-based foods — including dark chocolate, often praised as a heart-healthy treat — over eight years. They found that 43% of the products contained an amount of lead that tops recommendations, while 35% exceeded cadmium limits. Surprisingly, organic-labeled products had higher levels of lead and cadmium than non-organic products, the researchers said. Contamination can come from soil or occur during manufacturing. A single serving of these cocoa items may not pose significant health risks, but several servings might. Leigh Frame, director of integrative medicine at GW, led the testing of 72 cocoa-based products. The George Washingto...
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