Alcohol and Flushing

Downing a pint or two and the face flushes. An indication to stop drinking or down more ?


Why do some people's face flush where others seem unaffected by the high quantity consumed?


The answer lies in our genes. If you are Asian, you will most likely flush more than those with European gene.


Let me simplify a complex process of the digestion of ethanol ( drinking alcohol) in our body. There are 2 main enzyme that digest the ethanol.

1. Our stomach layer is lined with an enzyme that breaks down  ethanol. It is called ADH ( alcohol dehydrogenase).
2. Ethanol is oxidised by ADH so that our body can "digest" it but there is a by product called AL (acetyldehyde)
3. AL ( acetyldehyde) causes flushing through the dilation of blood vessels and hence the "redness" 
4. People who lack an enzyme called  ALDH (acetydehyde dehydrogenase) to breakdown the AL will experience more flushing
5. ALDH should not be confused with ADH  !ADH breaks down ethanol and ALDH breaks down acetyldehyde

Research has proven  that a people with facial flushing indicates  ALDH deficiency, and that an ALDH deficient drinker who drinks 2 beers per day has 6 to 10 times the risk of developing oesophageal cancer compared to those who are not.

The good news is that if your ancestors are good drinkers, the chances of you being a good drinker is high. Presence of the ALDH enzyme and the level in the body is determined by gene.

The bad news is if you flush easily...it is an indication that the body is asking you to slow down..so you will have to put down that glass even if you do not feel tipsy or drunk.

So bottom line, know your limits listen to your body. As cliche as it may sound, but drinking responsibly carries a whole new meaning..

It is not only about the problems created by drunk driving, but the possible cancer risk it poses on your body.

Reference


1.Theorell H, McKee JS (October 1961). "Mechanism of action of liver alcohol dehydrogen
2. Harada S, Agarwal DP, Goedde HW (1981) Aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency as cause of facial flushing reaction to alcohol in Japanese. Lancet 2: 982

Eating eggs without the yolk- smart way to reduce cholesterol or simple wastage ?

Myth:
Cholesterol is bad for you.


Truth :
Cholesterol is the basic building blocks of hormones and other chemical required to sustain your normal bodily function. Without cholesterol, cells cannot regenerate its membrane.


The good, the bad and the super ugly


Everyone knows about  LDL, HDL and to a certain extent trans-fatty acid. How about Lp (A) cholesterol ?


The good guys are the HDL which help to carry excess cholesterol from the artery back to the liver. High HDL has been proven to have heart protective effect.


The bad guys are the LDL. When coupled with oxidants and free radicals, LDL become oxidised and becomes more damaging than LDL alone. Free radicals  are bad stuff  derived from smoking, stress and all the activities your doctor advises you against.


The super ugly guys are LDL in changed form such as Lp (a) or oxidised LDL, They contribute to the clogging of your artery. These guys are attracted to existing damages on the artery  wall and contribute to a buildup of  fatty substances. 


Not forgetting the other ugly guy is the ubiquitous trans fatty acid that exist in fries, pies and all crispy & nice. Trans fatty acid INCREASE  LDL and REDUCE HDL; giving a double whammy effect on the heart.  In 2006 New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) scientific review  states " the consumption of trans fatty acids results in considerable potential harm but no apparent nutritional benefit" 

I  recommend that you EAT YOUR EGG YOLKS because of the following facts:

Fact 1:

Your body; more accurately the liver  produces about 1000mg cholesterol every day. Cholesterol itself is not harmful ; only the oxidised LDL . Eggs contain cholesterol and not LDL cholesterol 

Fact 2:

The AHA recommends a cholesterol dietary intake of less than 300mg per day. The egg yolk contains 212mg cholesterol compared to 3500mg transfat in a pack of small french fries.

Fact 3: 

Eggs are a good source of rare nutrients i.e. choline, folic acid, lutein and zeaxanthein that may protect the eyes. One egg contains 6 grams of protein and some healthy unsaturated fats. 

Conclusion of facts :

Eating an egg yolk a day does not kill you or contribute to clogging of your arteries. It does less harm than consuming chips, fries, pies and all other crispy fried food. With the consideration of millions of people who have hardly anything to eat and poor people with low protein diet, wasting an egg yolk is a sin.

I urge you to reconsider ditching the egg yolk the next time you eat eggs..instead avoid the temptation of eating fast food or deep fried food.

Source:

1.American Heart Association

2.MAYO clinic

Is overdosing on Vitamin C harmful ?

Vitamin C As Supplement

Most Vitamin C that you take in the form of supplement are made of L-ascorbic acid or ascorbate. The strength that is available starts from as low as 250mg to 1000mg and it can come in many forms. From chewable, orange flavoured ones to effervescent tablets, you can easily buy vitamin C; off the shelves of any pharmacy and even retail outlet that sells supplements.

Supplement means in addition to the normal intake of food. Since Vit-C cannot be stored in the body for a long period of time, fresh source is required and usually a serving of fresh fruits every day is sufficient to prevent Vit-C deficiency related diseases.

Back in the sea-fairing days, where fresh fruits or vegetable are hard to come by, SCURVY was a common disease that hit most sailors. Breaking surf and traversing the seven seas may come at the cost of a nice set of teeth. Tooth loss amongst sailors were common because of gum attrition caused by the lack of Vit-C.

Since modern man has only the internet to surf, it is more likely than not that an average adult has sufficient Vit-C in the their bloodstream.. except for those who smoke like a chimney !

What is the recommended dose ?

Follow what is prescribed by proven medical science !

Use The Dietary Recommended Intake ( DRI) Chart..

*RDA values are superceded with the DRI m

Vitamin C / Ascorbic Acid:

DRI (RDA):MalesFemales

0 - 6 months40 mg AI *40 mgAI *

6 - 12 months50 mgAI *50 mg AI *

1 - 5 years20 mg20 mg

5 - 10 years25 mg25 mg

10 - 18 years45 - 75 mg45 - 65 mg

18 years +90 mg75 mg

pregnant / lactating+ 45 mg

smoking+ 35 mg+ 35 mg

_______________________________________________________________________

Source:US-RDA

What is a Safe Dose ?

Some small studies have suggested that a higher recovery rate from flu and cold is achieved when the subject takes Vit C at 500mg. Even at 500mg, one is consuming 8 times the DRI of Vit C. What we can really draw from Vit C studies are:-

1. NO EFFECT on cold / flu preventio
2. Inconclusive evidence on reducing the duration of cold/flu recovery
3. Smokers need more Vit C than non smokers
4. Bigger and proven clinical trials need to be conducted AND SINCE VIT C IS AN OPEN SOURCE AND NOT PATENTED; NO BUSINESS DRIVEN COMPANY would want to spend $ for research.

When Vit C Becomes TOXIC ....

Vit C is generally non toxic, however in high dose ( more than 2,000 mg or 2 gm daily) can cause gastrointestinal side effects such as stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea.

Kidney Stones may also develop as a result of overdosage. Vit C can DEPLETE the body of copper which is an essential mineral for cells. Vit C can increase the absorption of iron and people with iron overload disease should be wary of it.

Research Materials From:-

1. US-FDA website
2. Audera (2001). "Mega-dose vitamin C in treatment of the common cold: a randomised controlled trial". Medical Journal of Australia 389: 175.

3. Picture taken from http://arizonaorangeco.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/

Disclaimer- Reading this site you agree to the statement

The contents of this blog site http://fakemedicine.blogspot.com/ , such as text, graphics, images, and other material are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read from this site.

http://fakemedicine.blogspot.com/ does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Site. Reliance on any information provided by this site id solely at your own risk.

The Site and the Content are provided on an "as is" basis.