Category Archives: Science

Tapeworms for Weight Loss

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Did you know in the 1950s some people would ingest tapeworms for weight loss? What is a tapeworm anyways?

A tapeworm is a parasite that lives in your small intestine and absorbs many of the foods nutrients you digest. The idea was you could eat whatever you wanted, and the tapeworm would absorb most of it, so you could enjoy foods without the weight.  It sounds great on the surface, but don’t get any ideas! These parasites can be scary!

Tapeworms can reproduce asexually (by themselves) or with another tapeworm. They actually are a chain of reproductive units called proglotids. Each little link has  what it takes to reproduce and make another link. The oldest units fall off the tail end of the tapeworm, while the new immature units form by the head. The more nutrients it receives from its host, the faster it will grow. A person can have multiple tapeworms from this process. It boils down to a matter of supply and demand with food. That is where the joke comes from where people who constantly eat being accused of having a tapeworm, because tapeworms take up so much of peoples nutrients, they feel hungry more often. Anyone else starting to see a problem with this? If that doesn’t freak you out,  tapeworms can cause a number of gastrointestinal problems, and many patients have complained of digestional discomfort from actually feeling the tapeworms move around inside them! GROSS!

Photo Courtesy of http://antiparasitictips.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The good news here is tapeworms aren’t much of an issue in places where meat is inspected by the USDA. So the United States is in the clear currently. However in other areas, tapeworms are usually ingested in their larval stage by animals such as cows and pigs. When humans consume these animals and do not cook them thouroughally, this is where the risk of tapeworms becomes a problem.

Photo courtesy of Alaska Department of Fish and Game

 

 

 

 

 

 

More good news is  these parasites can be seen by the naked eye in your meat, if you look for them. So as long as you aren’t going around in foreign countries eating well under cooked meat, you will likely be fine, and have to find some other way to lose weight like the rest of us.

Enjoy your next steak and cook it well,

~HealthyGirl

The Krebs Cycle and Role of Amino Acids

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Aerobic Respiration

Aerobic respiration is used by many organisms in the animal kingdom, including humans like you and me. It is a metabolic reaction that requires oxygen to produce ATP or energy. The equation for aerobic respiration is C6H12O6 + 6 O2 = 6 CO2 + 12 H2O + 38 ATP (engergy).

In simple terms it means organisms take in food and water, and put out CO2, water, and energy.
In this process, there are four steps, including glycolysis, formation of acetyl CoA, the Krebs cycle, and theelectron transport chain. We will primarily discuss glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, amino acids needed, and the electron transport chain.

 

Glycolysis & Formation of Acetyl CoA

Before the Krebs cycle begins, glucose needs to be broken down into the proper components before they can enter the cycle. First it is broken down into 2 3-carbon molecules of pyruvate in the cytoplasm of the cell.

This is known as glycolysis, which consumes 2 ATP, and produces 4 molecules of ATP, and  two molecules of NADH. Some organisms can survive on glycolysis alone for their energy,  while others continue the process to get more ATP. After the glucose is turned to pyruvate, it gets oxidized to carbon dioxide, and a 2-carbon acetyl group. It is then bound to coenzyme A, and shuttled into the mitochondria in the cell, while carbon dioxide is released as a waste product.

 

The Krebs Cycle

The next stage in energy production is the Krebs cycle, also known as the citric acid or Calvin cycle. Each of the acetyl groups produced from the original glucose molecule gets bonded to a molecule of oxaloacetate to form citrate or citric acid.

This is where the name of the cycle comes from. These are the Krebs cycle’s amino
acids needed to start the cycle. These two citric acid molecules get slowly oxidized  and hydrogen ions become bound to NAD form NADH and FAD from FADH2.

When the last carbon atom is released in the form of CO2, oxaloacetate is produced. This process forms 2 ATP molecules for every glucose that enters the cell.

Krebs cycle



 



 

The Electron Transport Chain

After the Krebs cycle, the electrons removed from this process follow many cytochromes on
the mitochondrial membrane in eukaryotic cells, and the plasma membrane of bacteria.

Here, hydrogen ions get pumped across the inner membrane of the mitochondria and flow through ATP synthase enzyme molecules. As the electrons pass through the electron transport chain, they fall to lower and lower energy states.

This energy that is released is used to drive H+ ions across the membrane, which in turn generates a transmembrane gradient of H+ ions. These hydrogen ions serve as a battery like source of energy to drive the phosphorylation of ADP to make 34 ATP per molecule of glucose.

Now you should be pretty familiar with glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, amino acids needed, and the electron transport chain, making the understanding of aerobic respiration, a breeze!

Amino-acids-vector

 

Resources:

 

 

Porphyria The Vampire Disease

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481Porphyria_cutaneous_ta I thought it might be appropriate to write about this disease since Halloween is coming up. Porphyria is thought to be the where vampire myths have come from, as people suffering from this disease usually have a sensitivity to sunlight, and abnormal hair growth. The main cause for this disease is the inability to produce heme (a part of our red blood cells) The slang term for this illness is the Vampire Disease.

According to the Mayo Clinic, this disease can usually be divided into two different categories although there are many different types. The two categories are Acute and Cutaneous Porphyria.

Acute porphyria includes the forms of this disease that primarily cause problems with the nervous system.(neuron porphyrias).Sometimes skin symptoms (neurocutaneous porphyrias), will also be a problem.
Cutaneous porphyria This includes the forms of this disease that cause problems in the skin due to oversensitivity to sunlight. This type does not affect the nervous system. 

The signs and symptoms a person with Porphyria may have will depend on the type they have.

Acute porphyria symptoms include

  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Constipation or Diarrhea 
  • Vomiting
  • Pain in limbs or back
  • Muscle pain, tingling, numbness, weakness or even paralysis
  • Seizures
  • Fever
  • Confusion/Disorientation
  • Hallucinations/Paranoia
  • Red colored urine
  • High blood pressure

Cutaneous porphyrias and neurocutaneous acute porphyrias

  • Itching
  • Painful skin redness 
  • Skin swelling
  • Blisters
  • Red urine
  • Abnormal Hair Growth
  • sensitivity to sunlight 

 Vampire

One can see how Cutaneous Porphyria might lead to myths of vampires and werewolves, due to the symptoms they often experience. This disease has a wide range of symptoms and some people may be unaware they have the disease, as anywhere from 1 in 500 to 1 in 50,000 people may suffer from it. So beware, the vampire in the movies might actually be right behind you!

~Happy Halloween, HealthyGirl 

 

 

 

Vanishing Twin Syndrome

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Twins_ultrasound 

What is Vanishing Twin Syndrome?
This is a syndrome where one of the fetuses from a set of twins or multiple fetuses dissapears in the uterus during a pregnancy. This interesting phenomenon has only been known for about 60 years. This is mostly due to the new advances with ultrasound technology, as we can now see fetuses in the first trimester. With Vanishing Twin syndrome, the fetus is usually gone in the second ultra sound. According to the american pregnancy association, this happens in 21-30% of multiple fetus pregnancies.

What Are the Signs and Causes of Vanishing Twin Syndrome?
This typically happens in the first trimester, with women over thirty. Signs might include bleeding, cramps and pain. Although the exact causes are not known, many of the problems lead back to chromosomal abnormalities, which occur quite frequently in all miscarriages. Problems can also stem from abnormal cord formation.This typically happens in the first trimester, with women over thirty. 

What Happens to the Vanished Fetus?
The vanishing fetus will usually be completely absorbed by the surviving fetus. It can also be compressed, a condition known as fetus papyraceus. There can also be an abnormal formation on the placenta, such as a cyst.

What About the Surviving Fetus?
If the other fetus has vanished after the first trimester, it may be at risk for cerebra palsy, according to WebMD. Otherwise the remaining twin is usually healthy, and unaffected by the loss.

Although this medical phenomenon may seem scary, it is a natural part of pregnancy. Many miscarriages are due to chromosomal abnormalities and improper placement of the umbilical cord. It only makes sense that this can happen to a single fetus, multiple fetuses, or one of multiple fetuses.

~HealthyGirl 

Free Radicals and Disease

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What are Free Radicals?
Free radicals are molecules or atoms with one unpaired electron in their outer shell. As we know, an atom has neutrons and protons in it’s neucleus. Swirling around on the outside are electrons. As you may recall from general chemistry, electrons like to pair up into groups of two. When one is left out on the outer shell, the atom becomes a free radical. This makes the atom highly reactive.

Free Radical Theory of Aging
This theory states that all living organisms go through the process of aging because of a build up of damage from free radicals throughout their life spans. Most free radicals are highly reactive and are associated with oxidative damage. When cells in our bodies happen upon  free radicals, it may cause destruction in the cells it encounters. This all may sound very minute when talking about atoms and cells, but this happens all the time throughout our lives and aids in the natural aging process.

Free Radicals and Disease
Many doctors agree that free radicals are the basic cause of all diseases. Examples are
cancer, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and Lou Gehrig's disease. Free radicals are a big part of their mechanism of injury in all these diseases. The use of antioxidant supplements such as Vitamin C in prevention and treatment of these diseases is currently under close investigation and in clinical trials.

What Causes Free Radicals?
One of the primary  creators of free radicals is radiation. Environmental components like sunlight, X-Rays and other radiation will hit the body and generate free radicals in the body. Pollution, dirt, oil, and stress are other creators of free radicals. The tricky part about free radicals is once they are oxidized they in turn, grab a loose electron from elsewhere, thus creating a new free radical.

How Do I Fight Free Radicals?
When fighting free radicals, you are also combating the aging process and warding off diseases! How cool! The best way to fight free radicals is to take care of your body inside and out. Many of us have heard of antioxidants right! THIS IS WHY THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT! Antioxidants provide cells with those extra electrons, thus they are  Anti oxidizers. So the best way to ward off free radicals is to eat drink and put antioxidants on your skin!

Where Do I get Antioxidants?
You can get antioxidants everywhere! Most Mary Kay moisturizers have antioxidants in them for your skin to help fight the aging process, and keep your skin healthy. Generally foods with vitamins A,C, and E are good choices. Also, berries are also powerful antioxidant foods! A few good examples are beans, artichoke hearts, walnuts, cinnamon and hazelnuts.

To Order Mary Kay please visit www.MaryKay.com/DestinyKeller

Have healthy, anti oxidized cells,
~Healthy Girl

What You Didn’t Know About Hand Washing

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Antibacterial Soap
 Many Americans are all into the rage about antibacterial hand soap. I remember a time a few years ago when I wouldn’t buy hand soap unless it was antibacterial. Otherwise there would be no point. Right?
 WRONG. Antibacterial soap is actually worse than soap without the antibacterial agents. This is because antibacterial soap is possibly increasing the development of resistant strains of bacteria.

Triclosan 
 The main ingredient in antibacterial soap causing this is Triclosan. It is also used in deodorants, shaving creams, and mouth washes. Many of us know that different strains of bacterial have developed resistance to antibiotics such as penicillin. Sine Triclocan works much like an antibiotic, the fear is it’s over use in so many products is creating these problems much like the over use of antibiotics is creating problems with new strains of resistant bacteria. Triclosan safety is currently being reviewed by the FDA. Either way, it is a good idea to stay away from house hold items containing Triclosan.

Hand Sanitizer
 There is no Triclosan in hand sanitizer so we don’t have to be worried there. The problem is alcohol in Hand Sanitizer is so strong it kills ALL bacteria on our hands. We actually have natural good bacteria all over our bodies. These are called our normal flora. They live on our skin and one of our first defenses against harmful bacteria. In general, it is okay to use hand sanitizer, but not too frequently, or it’s purpose is defeated.

What is the best solution?
 Health experts still agree it is a good idea to wash your hands frequently, especially before eating. The things to watch out for are soaps containing Triclosan, and excessive use of hand sanitizer. Otherwise, wash to your liking!

Have Healthy,Clean Hands,
-Healthy Girl