Covid patients with high levels of blood sugar more likely to die

Covid-19 patients with high levels of blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) who are hospitalised are at much higher risk of dying. Published in Research Expertise and Collaborations, a new study found the higher a patient’s blood sugar levels on admission, the more likely they were to die following hospitalisation. The researchers recommend all covid-19 patients have their blood sugar tested on admission to hospital, regardless of whether or not they’ve been diagnosed with diabetes and are treated accordingly. The most common form of diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, is very responsive to diet and lifestyle changes when made early enough. Our new eBook contains information and practical tools for serious health creation, which are also very effective in assisting with healthy blood sugar management.

Health risks of genetic engineering in animals laid bare

The risks of genetic manipulation techniques in animals, such as CRISPR, result in many unintended off-target consequences, which leave a trace. A new mouse study reveals that the problems are not due to unintended changes in DNA, but instead affect gene regulation. These effects are epigenetic and can also be passed onto the offspring of the animals that have been genetically altered. In fact, such traces have been identifiable after 10 generations. There are also concerns that such changes could affect the development of foetuses. There is still much that is unknown in regard to such changes where gene scissor applications have been used. Concerns have previously been expressed in regard to off-target changes to DNA in animals that have been genetically engineered. The results of this study also raise potential concerns in regard to the use of synthetic biology currently being used for mRNA technologies now being deployed in the new covid vaccines.

Junk food harms teen sleep quality

Teenagers who overindulge in junk food suffer from poor sleep quality. Researchers led by the University of Queensland, publishing in EClinical Medicine, analysed data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey from over 175,000 teenagers reporting the frequency of stress-related sleep issues along with the amount of fast food and fizzy drinks they consumed. Teenagers who consumed the greatest amount of fizzy drinks and junk food suffered from the highest number of disturbed nights. With the New Year just around the corner, this is the perfect time to encourage your teens to make changes to their diet and lifestyle that will futureproof their health.

An avocado a day keeps your gut microbes happy

Eating just one avocado a day improves the diversity of microbes in your gut and increases the metabolites they produce. Avocados are packed full of dietary fibre and essential monounsaturated fatty acids, which feed and nourish the microbes in our guts. A new study published in The Journal of Nutrition found eating avocados daily leads to increased levels of gut microbes that break down fibre, thus increasing levels of short chain fatty acids, which are necessary for gut health. Although still erroneously feared by many due to their fat content, avocados are a great addition to your diet as we recommend in our ANH Food4Health Guidelines.

Severe vitamin D deficiency in UK BAME community

Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic citizens in the UK are severely deficient in vitamin D. Low levels of vitamin D has been linked to a higher vulnerability to a range of respiratory diseases including covid-19. The new study, led by researchers at the Australian Centre for Precision Health, using data from the UK’s Biobank, found 57% of Asians and 38.5% of Black Africans in the UK had extremely low levels of vitamin D. Supplementing with vitamin D is a cheap and effective way to optimise levels of vitamin D and support immune system resilience reducing the risk of becoming severely ill from a range of viral illnesses including covid-19. For more information on why vitamin D is so essential to our health and wellbeing, how to check your levels and what supplements to take visit our Test & Take: vitamin D campaign page.

Ayurveda speeds covid recovery

A Delhi hospital has been congratulated for improving the recovery of 2,000 covid patients with mild symptoms using Ayurvedic treatments. The hospital, one of three designated as Covid Health Centres, used a traditional herbal blend known as Nagaradhi Kwath along with haldi milk and Amla Churan for vitamin C to treat 1,000 patients, while the other 1,000 received standard care. In a second trial 1,000 patients were given sitopaladi churna, a traditional treatment for the common cold. The results of the study are still to be published, but initial analysis of the data shows the Ayurvedic treatments helped to reduce symptoms of covid-19.