Dr. Anusha Vadlamudi with Allergy Partners of Coastal Carolina shares some information about this vital part of the body and how it works

Essential for survival, the immune system defends the body against germs and works to prevent or limit infection and illness. The body depends on the immune system to be able to fight harmful substances that come into the body from the outside and harmful changes that occur inside the body.

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIAID, the immune system can distinguish between normal, healthy cells and unhealthy cells by recognizing a variety of danger cues. After sensing foreign substances such as a toxin, bacteria, or virus, the immune system reacts to deal with the problem.

Dr. Anusha Vadlamudi, MD, board certified in allergy/immunology and pediatrics, is a provider at Allergy Partners of Coastal Carolina. She shared some information about this vital part of the body and how it works.

1. The immune system includes various parts of the body including skin, bone marrow, and the bloodstream.

The immune system is our defense system made up of a network of special organs, cells, and chemicals that interact and work together to fight infections, said Vadlamudi.

Bone marrow and thymus are primary organs where immune cells are generated and trained, said Vadlamudi. Lymphatic system, which includes lymph nodes and spleen, monitors the blood and detects and responds to pathogens and malignant cells.

The immune system also includes the skin and lymphatic tissue in the mucous membranes, which can be found in the respiratory tract, such as the tonsils and adenoids, reproductive tract, small intestine, and urinary tract. In fact, immune cells such as white blood cells, their products, such as antibodies, and chemicals such as chemokines, enzymes, etc. are present throughout the body in most organ systems, Vadlamudi said.

2. Two main ways onesimmunesystem defends the body is through innate and adaptive immunity. Innate Immunity, present at birth, and adaptive immunity (sometimes called acquired immunity) are two main parts of the immune system and work together to form an immune response through which the body recognizes and defends itself against bacteria, viruses and other substances it perceives to be foreign and harmful.

When the body detects foreign substances, also called antigens, the immune system begins working to recognize the antigens and get rid of them. An antigen is any substance that triggers ones immune system to make antibodies against it to try to fight it off. Innateimmunityis something already present in the body and is triggered by the chemical/structural properties of the foreign substance, Vadlamudi said.

According to the U.S. Library of Medicine, innate immunity, the first part to respond to an invader, involves barriers that prevent harmful materials from entering ones body and includes the cough reflex, skin, stomach acid, enzymes in tears and skin oils, etc.

Adaptiveimmunityis more complex, Vadlamudi said. Theimmunesystemkeeps a record of every microbe it has ever defeated, in types of white blood cells (B and T lymphocytes) called memory cells.

This memory makes future responses against a specific antigen more efficient. Viral infections like the flu and the common cold have to be fought many times because so many strains of the same type of virus can cause these illnesses. Therefore, getting a cold from one virus does not give youimmunityagainst the others.

3. Defects of the immune system can make someone vulnerable to infection, allergies, autoimmune diseases and even cancer.

According to the NIAID, when the immune system cannot activate an immune response when necessary problems such as infection occur. Problems such as allergic reactions and autoimmune diseases occur if an immune response is activated without a real threat or isnt turned off even after danger is gone. For example, if ones immune system reacts defensively after encountering usually harmless thingssuch as eggs or peanuts, theres probably an allergy.

Several factors can prevent an immune system from functioning properly. For example, primary immune deficiency diseases impair the immune system. These rare disorders are caused by genetic mutations affecting various parts of theimmunesystem.

PIDs are outnumbered by acquiredimmunedeficiencies, caused by factors such as chronic viral infections (such as HIV or hepatitis C), malnutrition, malignancy, diseases like cystic fibrosis, protein loss from gastrointestinal problems or kidney problems, bone marrow disease, medications such as immunosuppression or radiation, and life events such as trauma, surgery, aging etc., said Vadlamudi.

4. A healthy diet, stress management and sufficient sleep are beneficial to theimmunesystem.

Other than our genetics, ourimmunesystemis impacted by our diet, lifestyle and our environment, Vadlamudi. There are numerous nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are required to support the normal functioning of our immune system. Supplements are not necessary if you eat a well-balanced,healthy diet. Ensuring your diet has adequate Vitamin D, Zinc, Vitamins (B12, B6, B9 aka folic acid), Vitamin C, and Omega 3 fatty acids is important. There is evidence that a healthy gut microbiome may keep yourimmunesystemfunctioning optimally; so, you may consider keeping these gut bacteria healthy with prebiotics and probiotics. Chronic stress can suppressimmunity; stress management as well as getting enough sleep and exercise are all very important. Please keep in mind that hand washing, social distancing and self-isolation if symptomatic remain the most efficient ways to actively prevent infections.

Read more from the original source:
4 things to know about the immune system - Burlington Times News

Until recently, being catapulted into a health crisis was typically a solitary affair. Even if you had the privilege ofgreatsupport and help, you still got sick on your own. You searched for a treatment plan on your own. You kept all the other plates in your life spinning on your own. Now, of course, we're all a facingcatastrophicillness together, learning what it feels like when the ground gives way under our feet. Which is why we can learn a few things from those who've been there.

"The prologue is typical of women like me," author and musician Sarah Ramey writes in her new memoir. "A simple and innocuous medical event often with a gyro or gastro tilt that should have resolved simply, but didn't." Foryearsafter a seemingly minor infection and procedure for it,Ramey was living inside the identity of a chronically ill woman one for whom doctors had no answers, except that perhaps her symptoms were psychological in their roots.

"The Lady's Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness"is Ramey's account of her quest for answers in a healthcare system that is often antagonistic to patients, especially female ones. She chronicles the wearying toll of pain andthe frustration of trying to get a test deemed "an indulgence."And she also explores the meteoric rise in "unnamed" conditions that affect millions of women searching for causes and possible solutions. Salon spoke to Ramey recently about her decade-long odyssey, and her hopes for the post-pandemic healthcare landscape.

Tell me about how you became a full-time patient.

The way it began with me was with a botched surgery that set off two major problems. One was a mechanical problem from the botching of the surgery. The other was the true mystery part of it: being extremely tired, muscles aching all the time, digestive system shutting down. I had been completely healthy and really active prior to this,and then all of a sudden just extremely sick for no clear reason.

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My parents are both physicians, so for the firstyear I was ferried around to the best possible minds to evaluate what was going on. "Why is she in so much pain? Why is she sick all the time?" In the beginning, everybody took it quite seriously. A lot of them knew me. They knew that I wasa normal, active young lady, and all of a sudden I was very sick. Of course, something had to be very wrong.

But as they ran all the tests and looked foreverything any smart physician could think of and everything came back negative, a new diagnosis started to emerge. One urologist who had just performed this really horrible procedure took me into his office with my parents. Instead of talking to me, he looks at my parents and says, "You know, this test was negative. What I really think is going on here, like so many other young women her age, is this problem is psychological."

That was the first time that that happened. Then that would happen hundreds of times after that. In the absence of being able to understand what was going on, it became everyone's easiest way to think about it it must be some sort of psychosomatic issue. This is extremely common; I would say default.It's not that women come in and arealways dismissed out of hand. It's that when the tests come back negative, then the default in my experience and the hundreds of women that I've interviewed is, "If we can't figure it out with the tests that we have available, then it must be psychological."

This started for me in 2003. I was completely unaware thatwas a phenomenon. I really trusted medicine. I really felt very safe in the medical world. But then about two years into it I metsomebody like me.I callpeople like us WOMIs "a woman with a mysterious illness."

She was telling me the story of her experience in the medical world, and it was a carbon copy of mine. I felt like, this is a miracle.After that, I started to meet so many women. Thesymptoms are not always the same. But the story is exactly the same. Once they're not able to figure it out and usually it's in the same family of neuroendocrine immune problems then the assumption is that it's psychosomatic.

There's a phrase you use "the marginalization of mystery illness." It becomes, "We can't figure it out, so you're wrong. The disappointment is not on us, it's on you."

Yes. And this is such a strange moment to be talking aboutanything wrong with medicine or with doctors, because right now doctors are doing the thing that we all love and revere and respect about doctors. I really appreciate everything that doctors do. But there are some real problems in the system that I do think have to do with the unconscious biases a lot of physicians have towards,probably any marginalized person, but definitely women. I think both men and women, male and female physicians,learn that women are these nervous Nellies. It's important to understand that's a problem in the psyche of the physician; it's not a problem in the psyche of the patient. The power dynamic is so unbalanced. That's a really difficult position to be in, because you don't have the ability to make them not think that and make them treat you appropriately and make them fund the study of your disease.

The inherent patriarchal nature of medicine is certainly not new. Our American healthcare system was designed to treat male patients. The male body is the default. Yetnow there is this explosion of women reporting similarsymptoms. It isverymuch a younger female issue. What do you think isat the root of that?

The first thingis that nobody can say because so little research has been put into studying those problems. They don't get studied as physiologic, biomedical problems. There's no data. That's why they're mysterious. It's not because they are impossible to understand; it's because they haven't been studied almost at all.

I do think of the people that have been looking at this and have been taking this seriously for a long time, there are two camps that have a lot of overlap. Personally, I think the best theory is that we've made a lot of changes to our everyday lives. We have really changed our diets. We take so many antibiotics and then eat a diet that inherently imbalances our microbiome. We know that has real neuro inflammatory effects. It can inflame what's called the microglia, which is part of the central nervous system. They think that is part of what is driving some of these neuro and endocrine problems in people like me. But it's complicated.

It's sort of the opposite of a virus that comes in out of nowhere. It's instead what happens when you really disrupt the foundations of everyday, likewhen you disrupt the diet and how much you move around and how much social connection you have and how much you sleep. All things that we think of as soft and unimportant or whatever,actually really do have cumulative effects.

I talk about something called functional medicine. Functional medicine really talks about how we've changed our diet, the amount that we move around, our social connection, these things that really have an impact. Also the amount of chemicals that we use in an everyday way, and in an acute way.

Over the course of time, it does appear these things that we've changed measurably, radically in the last 60, 70 yearsare having an effect on our health. We can see it clearly with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, the metabolic diseases. That's much more visible. But over on what I would call the neuroendocrine immune branch of the chronic illness tree that we're growing autoimmunity, all these gut problems, irritable bowel, endocrine problems, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and all of the neuro inflammatory problems like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgiathose I think are also growing out into the same underlying problem of disrupting the microbiome, of changing the diet, etc.

These neuroendocrine immune problems, one theory is that it has so much to do with how all these things are stressing the body. And one major difference between the male body and the female body is the stress response. It's different. The female stress response is more sensitive to some of these more subtle changes in the environment, probably having to do with, if you're the body that has to carry new life into the world, you need to be sensitive to the environment around you. That's one theory about this, and you can't brush it all off because it's going toaffect this super fragile, new life in your body. The theory is that the female is sort of the canary in the coal mine here that's responding to all of these changes that we've made.

The problem is because the female is responding first and we don't study or particularly care about the female response, that it's just being ignored. It's allowing this huge problem to balloon. It's going completely unstudied and and dismissed, even though there are so many people that are suffering and dealing with all of these problems.

It's very clear that just in the past couple of years a community has arisen over these symptoms. Yet there is a lot of false information out there, a lot of misinformation,a lot of snake oil. There is hope for the medical community, but in the meantime, what would you say to women who are experiencing these mysterious illnesses?

This is a very imperfect suggestion, but there is almost no help for people like this in conventional medicine.You will just be treated really poorly if you try to go from doctor to doctor to doctor waiting for someone to take you seriously and help you. I wish it wasn't true, but thatreally is true. So what happens is you have to defect outside of conventional medicine into quote, "alternative medicine," which is just a jungle. [There are] so many differentmodalities, and everyone telling you that they can cure you and help you and heal you. So what I always recommend to people is at least starting with and reading aboutfunctional medicine.

The reason is that I think functional medicine is the group of practitioners in alternative medicine who have shifted through all the bulls**t, and have left the most evidence based and the most clinically evidentthings that peopleare seeing are working for the largest number of people. It's like a filter for all of the nonsense. It's not a perfect filter, but it's one filter. Functional medicine practitioners, I think, are offering currently some of the best therapies. Just asa baseline, they are going to look at what's going on in your gut, which I personally think is very important. They are going to help use what's available to modulate the gut microbiome, which is a diet and sometimes herbs and things like that.

It may be in a couple of years that conventional medicine is just going to give you a fecal transplant and that's it. But right now we don't have that. So you have some of these more quote "alternative" ways of manipulating the gut microbe, That's why I would start with functional medicine. If you have really severe chronic fatigue syndrome or really severe mystery illness or really severe Lyme, there are some centers like the Center for Complex Diseases, the Bateman Horne Center. Stanford has a myalgic encephalomyelitis, which is the other name for chronic fatigue syndrome, [initiative]. Those are also worth looking at.

It's just thatthere are millions of us. That's why I don't usually recommend like specific centers. Functional medicine is more widely available.The problem is you can't guarantee the quality of a functional medicine doctor. You don't know if they're going to be a Yahoo or not. I do think that this is like the best of a really imperfect, cobbled together system that is doing its best to try to help people like us. But it's better than being told that you're crazy and it's better than saying, "Oh you're severely ill. Let me just put some crystals on your forehead and I'll give you some lavender oil." That just drives me crazy, when somebody is really sick and somebody that's gone to a training over the weekend is advertising that they can help you. The reason I suggest functional medicine is, I think out of all of it, it's doing the best to sift through the wheat from the chaff.

What is it like for someone like you right now living through this pandemic? There isan increasingly large population of people who are going to get this virus. We certainly see here in New York city that thepeople who are becoming infected and becoming very sick are young. Surprisingly young. I am curious what it feels like to you and to the people that you've been talking to, watching this, and what you're doing to cope.

I am going to give you an honest answer here, which is that I think everybody in this community and people like me feels very similarly to everybody else. This isa catastrophe of unimaginable proportions in every direction. And it's just horrifying. A lot of people in the chronic illness community are doing wonderful things tohelp other people cope with being homebound suddenly and learning to live the way that we've done for a long time.I really admire that. But I feel that it is very difficult.

When I was homebound or bedridden for long periods of time, there were a lot of people in my life who said me, "You are so lucky. I wish I could work from home. It's just so hard being out in the world and being so busy all of the time. Lucky you." Or when I when I wasn't able to work, people would just say, "Oh, you'll find something. It's fine. Just look on the bright side. Everything will be fine."

To watch so many people struggling with being homebound, watching their job go up in smoke, suddenly feelingon the the brink of economic ruin and watching the government not doing enough, not having enough tests, having no tests, all of these things are the things that people in my community have been suffering with for decades, and being told that we're making it up, that it's just a hallucination. It's wild to watch suddenly everyone having almost a carbon copy experience of how horrifying it is. It's just what everybody is describing, as a tsunami that'sgenuinely threatening to sweep your whole life away, and how horrifying that is.

I hope this shared experience of how bad that actually iscan open up, after all of this is done, a better conversation about the lives of people in my community that have been dealing with a lot of these same components for a really long time. And maybe allow people to be a little bit more empathetic and helpful as we move forward.

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Mystery illnesses are on the rise with women, whom doctors are dismissing as "nervous Nellies" - Salon

Brij Bhushan Goel is an insurance advisor who lives in Shalimargh Bagh, Delhi, in a family of seven. While his day job sees him advising people over the phone on insurance products, his passion is to talk about naturopathy. Having got a diploma in naturopathy and yoga from the International Foundation of Health and Yoga, Delhi, in 1988, he has practised the oldest form of healing for 34 years. Through this time he has been on a raw diet.

What made you begin eating raw foods?

It was while formally studying naturopathy in 1986 that I first came across the concept of raw food. As an experiment, I stayed on raw foods for 10 days. I felt very good and that made me research further. Through my research, I discovered that raw foods can give one a balanced diet with proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fibres, vitamin and minerals. I also realised that raw foods have a lot of variety: fruits, seeds, dry fruits and also cover all tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. Within 10 days I was able to see changes in my body.

What kind of changes did you notice?

Well, it wasnt like I was sick or had a particular disease, but I used to get tired after a days work. Within 10 days of switching to raw food, I saw my stamina and energy increase. I felt much lighter and less lethargic.

Wasnt it difficult initially?

Not really. I never forced myself. If I had a great urge to eat cooked food or a strong craving, I indulged in it. But I felt I was doing an experiment on myself, so I closely watched how my body felt after I ate cooked food. I could see the difference and within two to three months my cravings went away. I started discussing what I was learning in my naturopathy course with my wife. She too tried it. There has been no looking back since.

What about the rest of the household?

Initially the rest of the family members ate mostly cooked food. But slowly they moved to a 50-50 diet. Everyone eats at least one plate of fruits, one of salad, and drinks one glass of vegetable juice daily.

Daily meals

How do you manage in social situations at a wedding or when youre invited to dinner, for instance?

Initially when I went to peoples houses, I would tell them I only eat raw foods. Relatives would often get hassled trying to find something to feed me and also feel bad if they couldnt. So I stared saying I am on a complete fast. That solved a lot of problems. My wife and I always try and eat before going for larger functions. Sometimes these functions have fruits laid out, but at times we dont find anything to eat. Over time I have seen people change. The same people who use to insist that I eat something cooked earlier, now serve fruits along with other items whenever there is a gathering in their homes.

What about the excessive pesticide use that we are witnessing today?

Pesticides are chemicals that will remain the same whether you cook or dont cook. The main thing is to wash and clean everything thoroughly. We wipe everything with a dry cloth after washing. Take the example of grapes: DDT is sprayed on them. That is why you will see white spots emerge on washed grapes. We just wipe the grapes with a clean cloth.

Are there any principles you follow?

I soak everything that is hard or very dry before eating -- not roast or heat, but soak. This includes dried fruits, nuts and seeds. To draw the benefit out of food, it must get properly digested. Hard or dry things, if not soaked adequately can cause more harm than good. I dont drink milk or tea of any kind. If I ever feel the need, I drink coconut water or honey and lemon water. I dont add salt to anything; most vegetables have their own salt. I only eat condiments that I can eat raw, like ginger, mint, coriander, and turmeric. While all grains can be sprouted, not all get soft enough to eat raw. Its difficult with beans like rajma, but sprouted wheat is soft. I eat that as well as raw sweet corn.

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This naturopath from Delhi has been on a raw food diet for 34 years - The Hindu

We may be currently stuck at home due to the 21-day lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic but it is very important to have a fitness regime in place.

According to various researches, being sedentary not only has a detrimental effect on physical health, but also affects mental health. Working out regularly and being physically active can help lower stress and blood pressure, reduce the risk of stroke, and prevent the onset of diabetes.

Our immune system works effectively when it flushes out bacteria from our lungs and airways, increases white blood cell counts, and raises our body temperature.

Many of us might also be feeling bogged and getting depressed during the lockdown. Being active helps in lowering the stress hormones like cortisol and helps in releasing the feel-good hormone, endorphin.

Shaun T, an American fitness trainer, motivator, and television personality led on with some motivation for the week for people who have been self-isolating themselves.

While we are at home and we try to learn one skill or the other, cooking has emerged as one of the top favourites among the lot.

A healthy diet can help in reducing the chances of cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, obesity, as well as depression and anxiety.

As long as we keep the processed foods that are high in sugar at arms length and follow a diet that comprises complex carbohydrates that are found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, we will be on the road to good health.

Yogurt can also help in keeping our gut healthy.

Maintaining a proper sleep cycle should be a top priority during this period. A good night of sleep will help our bodies repair its cells, clear toxins, consolidate our memories, and process information.

Sleep deprivation can have major health impacts such as negatively affecting our psychological health and emotional intelligence. For most people, six to nine hours of sleep per night is enough.

During the lockdown, remember to maintain a proper sleep pattern and wake up at a proper time. This will help in maintaining a normal routine throughout the day. Further, limiting the electronic screen time before going to sleep can also help.

While working out in the open is not an option now, there are a lot of home workouts that can keep our physical and mental health in optimum condition,

Taking a dig on the word quarantine, Cricketer Hardik Pandya motivated his fans to not just sit around, but also workout.

You can also walk up and down the staircase in your home or building (if you have one), jog in one place, do jumping jacks, sit-ups, and push-ups at home. You can also take out your skipping rope and start skipping in an open area in your home.

Though we cannot meet our friends and family freely now social media has helped us stay connected with each other.

We can still keep in touch with our friends and families over voice calls, video calls, messengers, and social media platforms.

Now more than ever, staying connected with our loved ones is as important as following a healthy diet, sleeping well, and engaging in physical exercise.

How has the coronavirus outbreak disrupted your life? And how are you dealing with it? Write to us or send us a video with subject line 'Coronavirus Disruption' to editorial@yourstory.com

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Stay safe, stay fit: Here are 4 ways to stay healthy during the coronavirus lockdown on World Health Day - YourStory

A link between a high-fiber diet and a lower risk of breast cancer has been found according to a recently published analysis of relevant studies.

The findings, which were published in the peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society (ACS) called Cancer, showed a link between a reduced incidence of breast cancer when consuming a diet heavy in fiber.

RELATED:New study suggests weight gain may reduce breast cancer risk

Our study contributes to the evidence that lifestyle factors, such as modifiable dietary practices, may affect breast cancer risk, saidMaryam Farvid, Ph,D., of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in a press release.

For their analysis, Farvid and her colleagues probed for all pertinent potential studies published through July 2019. Researches did so because studies reviewing the possible link between breast cancer and fiber-rich diets have given rise to inconsistent results.

Pooling data from the 20 observational studies the researchers surveyed, they foundindividuals who consumed the highest amount of fiber had an 8% lower risk of breast cancer. Higher fiber intake was associated with a lower risk in breast cancer in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. A lower risk of breast cancer was also linked to soluble fiber.

RELATED:These two common foods could lower breast cancer risk, study suggests

Our findings provide research evidence supporting the American Cancer Society dietary guidelines, emphasizing the importance of a diet rich in fiber, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, Farvid said.

Its important to note, however, thatthe analysis does not show dietary fiber consumption results in a direct reduction of the risk of breast cancer risk. To test such cause and effect, a randomized clinical trial is required.

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High-fiber diet linked to lower risk of breast cancer, study finds - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Despite Italian foods like Pizza, Alfredo and to a certain extent Pasta, that is anything but healthy, when you look at Italy as a whole, you would find obesity is rare. In fact, not just obesity but studies and research suggest that the Italian or the Mediterranean diet is helpful in reducing the risk of heart diseases and cancer.

Well, truth be told, Italian people are not born with it. The secret to their amazing health is in their diets, which today will be our point of discussion. Today, we will unveil 7 such secrets that keep the Italians so fit and healthy.

The thing with Italians is, they enjoy every second of their eating experience and spend hours over the table, just to relax and socialize.

This means they might sit over lunch and dinner for hours, but it will not lead them to eat or drink more than they required. Apart from that, prior and post meals, Italian people also take a stroll around the town also known as passeggiata. In this process, all the generations walk together, talking, bonding and keeping the traditions alive. You will get to learn about these secrets from this Italian website.

This was completely surprising. It is hardly found in any other cultural diet. The people of Italy do not believe in counting calories, which in recent times has become the trend.

They say they only keep their stomachs involved while eating and keep the herd out of the business. Thus, the stomach immediately sends a signal when they are full, which does not happen when you are mindful.

On the other hand, they never eat after dinner, nor believe in eating in front of the television or computers. They pursue a very active lifestyle, mixed with a lot of fruits and vegetables. Yes, green vegetables and fibers are the main part of their diet.

Like most things in life, the Italian diet too is based on a perfect measure of quality and quantity, which includes, not too much fat, a perfect blend of healthy carbohydrates, proteins.

They follow this principle ardently and thus include all of their foods like pasta, lean meats, fishes, and more in the right quantities. One more thing to learn about them is that they would never prefer sodas, or chips, or mayonnaise. When they have sugar cravings, they will pick some fruits, instead of calorie-packed sweets.

Nowadays, things have changed and people have shifted to packaged foods, which are not good for our health. The thing with the Italian diet is, they keep it simple, believe in cooking from raw and enjoy simple, fresh foods. Dont buy precooked foods and try eating as fresh as you can.

Again, sticking to diets has become a part of peoples lifestyles but here as well, the Italians differ from the rest of the world.

They refuse to hang up on nutrition, eat what they want and lead an active lifestyle. Yes, they do make a few smart choices like avoiding fried foods and sweets. That said, they will never refuse a glass of fine wine and luxurious dining!

You must have understood that food plays a vital part in any Italians life. But heres the best part about their food schedule: they believe in eating together with family or friends.

Not only this ensures that the meals are prepared with utmost perfection, but it also ensures that they are eaten slowly, leisurely, not forgetting how affectionate it is. Plus, even studies have proven that eating together has health benefits because it ensures the consumption of more fruits and veggies. Moreover, It gives you some precious moments to sit with your loved ones and share life with them.

Most of us reckon Italian food to be just pasta and pizza. Well, heres a reality check they never eat pizzas as an entire meal like we do; it is more like a pre-course. Their plate consists of fruits, veggies, meat, fish, and so much more. So, the next time you pick up a slice of pizza instead of your dinner, remember this!

Italians cook their food with limited ingredients which prevent them from gorging on the extra fats. They refrain from cooking their meals in high alfredo creamy sauces like Pizza with cheese which makes their food carbohydrate-heavy instead of fat heavy. They also use a lot of olive oil in their food to leverage the innumerable benefits it has to offer.

Yes, and thats the secret of their well-maintained figure. You will rarely find an Italian gorging onto a mountain full of pasta topped with extra creamy sauce. They will instead revel in a smaller bowl and enjoy every bite. This prevents them from eating a heavy meal at once and thus resists unprecedented weight gain.

Every culture among the Italians has its own cultural food which is passed on from the generations to generations. Apart from that, Italians enjoy the flavor of home-cooked food and that is one of the major reasons why they are so fit.

The homemade food does not let them gorge onto the unhealthy fats, junk has to offer. Plus, the ingredients chosen at home are all healthy and fresh which benefits their health.

The Italian diet is based on one phrase, which is also used by nutritionists all over the world: It is not only what you eat, but how you eat.

Thus, now that I have unveiled the secrets, you must have understood that when it comes to food and eating habits, the people back in Italy definitely know something which we dont. You need not entirely replicate their lifestyle, but whats the harm in adapting the good.

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10 Secrets of the Italian Diet you Must Know - Foreign Policy 2018

No regrets. In a recent video interview discussing everything she eats in a day, model Tyra Banks revealed shes gained about 30 pounds since appearing on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue in May 2019.

I have a very interesting relationship with food. I have to say that it is one of the most important things in my life, the former Americas Next Top Model host, 46, told Harpers Bazaar in a video interview posted on Friday, April 3. A lot of my personal life, and the things that I like to do and my hobby is food.

Banks added that shes partial to finding new restaurants, challenging herself not to visit the same eatery within six months, scouting out food festivals and visiting supper clubs. Food is such an integral part of her life, she noted, that its led to a change in her body.

Right now, you cant tell because I have on a mens blazer, [but] I am 25 pounds heavier than I was on the cover of a very famous swimsuit magazine that came out last year, she dished.

Banks famously made history in May 2019 when she came out of retirement and posed for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover at the age of 45. That feat came 22 years after the model first appeared on the Sports Illustrated cover and was the first black model to do so.

These days, instead of being extra careful with what she eats, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum said shes not choosing to deny herself when it comes to food. Its like, when youre tired and youre working hard, you just go to this fast food and this fast food and this fast food, and you compare the burgers!

The Tyras Beauty Inside & Out author added with a smile: So Im 30 pounds heavier and itll come off one day, but not today.

As for what she eats in a day, the model revealed shes a fan of black coffee, bean chips, sesame bars and more.

The California native even has an indulgent habit that involves ordering the same type of cuisine from two different restaurants and comparing the results in an epic taste test. I do it with my son, I do it with my man, we line it up and then we score the different restaurants with the same item. What happens is, the next time you order, you know where to order from because one of them is always nasty.

Even though shes not much of a cook herself, Banks revealed that one of her favorite things to make home is candied bacon coated in a sauce that includes Sriracha, maple syrup, and fresh-ground black pepper.

Scroll down to see what other foods the Coyote Ugly actress eats in a day!

Read more:
Tyra Banks Reveals Shes Gained 30 Lbs Since Her 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover: Itll Come Off One Day - Us Weekly

Eating more than the recommended amount of salt disrupts the antibacterial function of a type of immune cell, research in mice and humans has found.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), 9 out of 10 people in the United States consume too much salt (sodium chloride).

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which the Department of Health and Human Services publish, recommend that people consume no more than 2.3 grams (g) of sodium per day. This amount is roughly equivalent to 5.8 g of salt, which would fit into a level teaspoon.

The reason for the recommendation is that there is good evidence that excess dietary salt raises blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

However, a new study featuring in Science Translational Medicine suggests for the first time that such a diet could also make it harder for the immune system to destroy bacteria in some human organs.

Researchers at the University Hospital of Bonn in Germany were surprised to discover that a high salt diet in mice exacerbated a common bacterial infection of the kidneys Escherichia coli.

To test whether the deleterious result of a high salt diet was purely a local effect on the kidneys, the researchers infected the mice with Listeria and found that this body-wide, systemic infection was also worse on a high salt diet.

These findings were unexpected because previous research has found that excess dietary salt promotes healing in animals infected with skin parasites.

Skin acts as a reservoir for excess salt, and immune cells in the skin called macrophages are known to become more active in these salty conditions.

In contrast, it seems that a different type of immune response cell, the neutrophil, which is key to the body fighting bacterial kidney infections, becomes less effective in the face of a high salt diet. The researchers were intrigued to find out why.

In the rest of the body, however, the kidneys help maintain the concentration of salt at optimum levels for metabolism by excreting excess sodium.

The new study suggests that in the process of the kidneys regulating high blood sodium levels, they inhibit one arm of the immune system, impairing its ability to fight off bacterial infections.

The researchers fed one group of mice a high salt diet and gave a normal diet to a control group of mice for comparison.

When infected with Listeria, the liver and spleen of mice on the high salt diet contained 10100 times more bacteria than those of the controls.

Similarly, excess dietary salt made kidney infections with E. coli worse.

The researchers traced this impaired ability to fight off bacterial infections to immune cells called neutrophils, which ingest bacteria.

They believe that the kidneys response to high dietary salt may indirectly affect the neutrophils.

The kidneys use a molecular mechanism for detecting excess sodium in the bloodstream and excreting it in the urine.

But in the process, this mechanism raises levels of steroid hormones called glucocorticoids, as well as a waste product called urea.

Both glucocorticoids and urea inhibit the ability of neutrophils to kill bacteria.

To confirm these findings in humans, the researchers put volunteers on a high salt diet.

One of the scientists, Prof. Christian Kurts from the Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Bonn, explains:

We examined volunteers who consumed 6 g of salt in addition to their daily intake. This is roughly the amount contained in two fast food meals, i.e., two burgers and two portions of French fries.

After a week on the high salt diet, the volunteers had higher levels of glucocorticoids in their bodies.

Glucocorticoids are well-known for their immunosuppressant properties. Doctors use one of the most familiar, cortisone, clinically to reduce inflammation.

In addition, the researchers discovered that neutrophils that they extracted from the blood of volunteers on the high salt diet were less effective at killing bacteria in a laboratory dish.

In their paper, the scientists speculate that reducing dietary salt intake might help combat bacterial infections in the kidney, in contrast to its effect on skin and gut infections.

Their findings are preliminary, however, and need larger clinical studies to confirm them.

Excerpt from:
Excess dietary salt may weaken immunity against bacteria in the kidneys - Medical News Today

During these days of lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak, most of us have several areas of concern. We need to figure out 'how to eat in order to keep our immunity intact, how to manage healthy meals with limited ingredients on hand, how to cook when some of us may not be very experienced cooks and also how to be disciplined about our diet and health goals.

The idea that I want to encourage you to adopt is to SIMPLIFY. Here are some of the questions you need to focus on during the lockdown period...

According to the concept of Time Restricted eating, on most days (at least 5 days a week), eat within an 8-12 hour window and fast for the rest.

There are several benefits of doing this, in todays scenario. Digestion is an energy consuming activity. When we eat, the body has to dedicate several resources towards digesting our food. Having a longer gap between dinner and breakfast helps the body optimise the recovery, cleansing and that, in turn, strengthens immunity.

To simplify meals, it would be good to opt for a one pot meal that is easy to prepare and easy to clean up afterwards.

Khichdi is rich in healthy lentils and greens

When you opt for a one pot meal, you can create great flavours with a broad spectrum of nutritive choices.

Make simple dressings that are healthy and delicious

Another way that you can simplify your meals, is by making simple condiments, like chutneys or dips or dressings. This will stay for a week and can be put together by blending everything in your mixie. These condiments will add a huge nutrition boost and flavour to your meals.

Tempering is an important step in Indian cooking

Herbal teas are true supplements for immunity. I have shared a recipe, but it can be customised. Even one or two of these ingredients, steeped in hot water is great! Just make this tea once a day for the whole family.

A recipe for a tea that can build immunity

Snacks should be simple and light

Desserts, when healthy and simple, are the best! It is important to create small moments of fun and pleasure with uplifting and healthy food and your best option would be more fruit-based desserts. It is healthier to use jaggery as a sweetener.

A recipe for Fruit cream dessert

I love this recipe idea that I have shared above that is made of cashews and dates. The sweet cream is both decadent and satisfying, and healthy too.

How has the coronavirus outbreak disrupted your life? And how are you dealing with it? Write to us or send us a video with subject line 'Coronavirus Disruption' to editorial@yourstory.com

More here:
Diet tips: Here's how to eat right during the COVID-19 lockdown - YourStory

If you are above 50 never forget to add these foods to your diet

When people get old, changes are visible not only in the way the skin looks or physical actions, but also how the body responds to nutritional needs. As we age, the body needs more nutrient-dense foods and vitamins for optimal health. "In youth, it is all about growth and maintaining a body that can grow. But after the age of 50 the goal is to prevent diseases by maintaining an optimally healthy and active mind and body," says nutrition and fitness expert Pamela Peeke, MD. That is why, if you are above 50, you should be aware of these foods to add in your diet chart.

Here are some foods you should be eating to keep your body healthy and mind sharp over time.

Your body is in need of fibre rich foods like raspberries, bananas, carrot, broccoli etc. After 50 our gastrointestinal functions slow down automatically. So it is essential to eat enough fibre to keep your system moving smoothly.

(Also read: 7 Superfoods Present In Your Kitchen You May Not Know About)

"As the body ages the stomach's acidity decreases, and as a result, it becomes harder to get enough vitamin B 12 in your diet," says Dr Peeke. That is why, if you are above 50, your diet should always contain B12 Foods like corn flakes, cereals etc.

B12 enriched foods are important if you are above 50

Yes! Your body needs kitchen ingredients like turmeric and cinnamon. Every Indian kitchen surely contains these useful spices. Both are known as anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial agents. They boost your immune system quite well. Even a few beverages made with these spices are great for immunity.

Last but not the least, drink water. Your body uses water in all its organs, cells and tissues to help regulate and maintain bodily functions. "Women need nine cups of water and while men should drink 13 cups daily", says Dr Peeke.

So, if you are over 50, try adding these effective foods in your diet for a healthy lifestyle.

(Also read: 5 Ways Coronavirus Will Change The Way We Eat)

More:
Are You Over 50? Add These Foods To Your Diet To Stay Healthy - NDTV Swirlster