Health
Four Healthy Drinks To Reduce Belly Fat: Expert’s Perspective
Body Mass Index (BMI), has been the tool for assessing healthy body weight. Research has now pointed to the fact that just BMI is not enough, we need to know our body composition (BCA) to find out how much fat versus muscle we carry and waist-hip ratio, which is now seen as a critical indicator of health. The latter, visceral fat is of bigger concern and has been associated with higher risk of CVD, DM, and cancers. It is also linked to increased LDL, lower HDL cholesterol, and insulin resistance.
While losing excess weight is important, losing belly fat is critical and also a little difficult. It needs a disciplined regime including diet but more importantly targeted exercise program. So while there are no shortcuts, some common drinks have been found to have a positive effect and support belly fat loss. With winters around the corner and gajar ka halwa, hot sweet tea, and increased appetite are on the doorstep to take us off the track, try replacing these with these drinks:
Green Tea:
Its health quotient is well researched and documented. Its role in overall weight loss is also well researched. Green tea is rich in antioxidants polyphenols. Catechins, especially EGCGs (epigallocatechin gallate), has a strong positive co-relation with fat oxidation in humans even in the resting body. In one Chinese study, it was found that green tea helped with reduction in visceral fat. It also helps fill you up, preventing hunger pangs, thereby, adding to reduced overall calorific intake. Cold winter days and a perfect warm cup of health!
Cinnamon Tea:
Cinnamon is a spice endowed with a number of health benefits. It is very effective in controlling blood sugars and reducing insulin resistance (IR). IR is one of the main causes of increased fat deposition in the abdomen. Cinnamon is useful for distressing, which in turn lowers the stress hormone cortisol. There is well documented evidence that high cortisol levels support abdominal fat deposition and a craving for high fat and sugar foods. Cinnamon is also a metabolism booster, has a sweetness in flavour and is also very good for heart health. A well-researched spice that has been used for centuries for its health benefits, having a cup of cinnamon tea will not only help with losing the extra fat but also revving up your immune system. Perfect drink for winter health.
Coffee:
A recent study published on Research Gate studied the participants for effect of continuous coffee consumption on body fat especially visceral fat. They found that a moderate intake of coffee, 3 cups/day, showed a significant change in reduction of body fat, especially visceral fat. The polyphenols in coffee- chlorogenic acids – have been shown to reduce belly fat. There are a number of studies which have shown similar results. Coffee contains caffeine, a natural energy booster, but I repeat again that moderate intake is enough. 2-3 cups of black coffee without sugar is a good way to start the belly fat loss journey.
Honey:
Again a warm cosy drink to cheer you up in winters. Metabolic syndrome MetS, is a growing public health concern. Obesity is a major risk factor for this especially W/H ratio and visceral obesity. Honey has been observed to prevent wait gain in animal studies and also a decrease in body fat percentage. A similar pattern has been observed in human trials to. Honey is also known for energising the body and hence preventing hunger pangs. Being a good antioxidant, it counters the oxidative stress produced by visceral fat cells.
While these amazing warm drinks will add a lot of health and no extra calories to your day, a healthy lifestyle and regular targeted exercise is still needed for losing the belly fat.
Two United States scientists who unraveled the human micro RNA have won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024.
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won the coveted prize for their work on microRNA as their discoveries help explain how complex life emerged on earth and how the human body is made up of a wide variety of different tissues.
MicroRNAs influence how genes – the instructions for life – are controlled inside organisms, including humans.
Every cell in the human body contains the same raw genetic information, locked in our DNA.
However, despite starting with the identical genetic information, the cells of the human body are wildly different in form and function.
The electrical impulses of nerve cells are distinct from the rhythmic beating of heart cells. The metabolic powerhouse that is a liver cell is distinct to a kidney cell, which filters urea out of the blood.
The light-sensing abilities of cells in the retina are different in skillset to white blood cells that produce antibodies to fight infection.
So much variety can arise from the same starting material because of gene expression.
The US scientists were the first to discover microRNAs and how they exerted control on how genes are expressed differently in different tissues.
The medicine and physiology prize winners are selected by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute.
They said: “Their groundbreaking discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential for multicellular organisms, including humans.
“It is now known that the human genome codes for over 1,000 microRNAs.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has begun acting to curb effects of antibiotic pollution.
The new guidance on wastewater and solid waste management for antibiotic manufacturing sheds light on this important but neglected challenge ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) taking place on 26 September 2024.
The emergence and spread of AMR caused by antibiotic pollution could undermine the effectiveness of antibiotics globally, including the medicines produced at the manufacturing sites responsible for the pollution.
Despite high antibiotic pollution levels being widely documented, the issue is largely unregulated and quality assurance criteria typically do not address environmental emissions. In addition, once distributed, there is a lack of information provided to consumers on how to dispose of antibiotics when they are not used, for example, when they expire or when a course is finished but there is still antibiotic left over.
“Pharmaceutical waste from antibiotic manufacturing can facilitate the emergence of new drug-resistant bacteria, which can spread globally and threaten our health. Controlling pollution from antibiotic production contributes to keeping these life-saving medicines effective for everyone,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for AMR ad interim.
Globally, there is a lack of accessible information on the environmental damage caused by manufacturing of medicines.
“The guidance provides an independent and impartial scientific basis for regulators, procurers, inspectors, and industry themselves to include robust antibiotic pollution control in their standards,” said Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, WHO. “Critically, the strong focus on transparency will equip buyers, investors and the general public to make decisions that account for manufacturers’ efforts to control antibiotic pollution.”
In a concerted effort to curb brain drain, the Kebbi State Government has harmonised medical doctors’ salaries to be at par with their colleagues in the federal government’s tertiary health facilities.
Kebbi State Commissioner for Health, Musa Inusa-Isma’il, disclosed this at the handing over of ambulances to the state-owned health facilities at the Ministry of Health in Birnin Kebbi yesterday.
Inusa Isma’il, according to a statement by Ahmed Idris, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said the essence of the harmonisation was to retain the existing medical doctors and attract more to the services of the state.
According to him, the doctors across the state had already started enjoying the new salaries from August 2024.
He said the release of the vehicles was in fulfilment of Governor Nasir Idris’ promise to uplift health care services in the state.
“His Excellency said I should inform you, the beneficiaries of this gesture, that the vehicle should be strictly used for the intended purpose. It should not be used for anything else.
“If there is no referral case, each of the vehicles must be parked at the hospital by 6 pm. The governor said you should warn your drivers against reckless driving as well as violating the instructions.
“We should also do everything possible to reciprocate the gesture by working according to the terms and conditions attached,” he advised.
The benefiting health facilities included Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi; State Teaching Hospital, Kalgo; General Hospital, Argungu; General Hospital, Yauri; General Hospital, Zuru; and General Hospital, Bunza.
In his speech, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr Shehu Koko, recalled that the ambulances were handed over to the ministry last Friday by the governor for the onward handover to the benefiting hospitals.
He observed that the ambulances would go a long way in improving the referral system in the state, adding that delays in reaching the secondary and tertiary facilities would be eliminated.
The permanent secretary attributed the high rate of maternal mortality in the country to delays in getting to the health facilities for proper medical care.
“We believe with the provision of these ambulances, part of the gaps we have in our referral system will be addressed, whereby patients who require secondary healthcare could be easily transported to secondary and tertiary health centres, where they can get such help,” he said.
In a goodwill message, Commissioner for Information and Culture Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed expressed gratitude to the governor for the support he has given to the ministry to excel.
While advising the beneficiaries to use the vehicles judiciously, the commissioner advised that services and maintenance of the vehicles must be prompt to derive the maximum benefits from the vehicles.
The commissioner also highlighted some achievements recorded by the government in the last year, including beautification of the state capital, completion of a multimillion-naira ultramodern state secretariat, road construction, construction and renovation of classrooms and upgrading of some health facilities, among others.