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Cardiovascular / Circulatory

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Co-Morbidities: The Value of Exercise

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized as a multisystem inflammatory condition, which affects 1% of the population.1 The condition is further complicated by co-morbid diseases which includes cognitive dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, fatigue, and depression.1(1)2 As an aggregate, such illnesses can systematically diminish an individual’s health and quality of life. Thus, it is imperative to consider interventions,…

Overweight, Biomarkers, and Nutritional Interventions

Sedentary behavior and a general overconsumption of calories, especially from processed foods, are primary drivers for overweight/obesity.1,2 Such changes can be identified and tracked by implementing a measure known as body mass index (BMI); a metric relating weight (kilograms) divided by height (metres2) to normative values.3 Other biomarkers that provide meaningful insight into an individual’s…

Help Manage Diabetes With Walking!

Diabetes mellitus is both a progressive and chronic disease in which there exists an inability to effectively and efficiently metabolize fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Ultimately, such a condition leads to hyperglycemia, or elevated blood glucose levels, and eventually type 2 diabetes (T2D). Several posts have been written by this author regarding sleep/nutritional/supplemental interventions and their…

Managing Constipation With Magnesium/Sulfate Mineral Water

Chronic constipation has an estimated prevalence rate of 14% and tends to be twice as more frequent amongst females than males.1 Constipation can be characterized by less than 3 defecations per week, recurrent abdominal pain for a minimum of 3 days per month within a 12-week period, straining while defecating, incomplete evacuation, and lumpy/hard stools.2…

World Hunger, Food Biotechnology, and Regulating Bodies: Does Profit Influence Their Good Deeds?

Food quality and abundance are potential challenges as the world population continues to escalate. One particular answer to solve such an issue is through food biotechnology (FB) interventions. FB can be defined as the implementation of single microorganisms, enzymes, and microbial groups to modify food.1Such interventions are used to improve rates of production, conserve perishable…

Warm-Ups and Performance

A warm-up can be defined as preparatory exercise to improve competition or training performance (Fradkin, Zazryn, & Smoliga, 2010). However, have warm-ups been supported by evidence as being effective? If so, to what degree are they effective, and why are they effective? The following sections will explore the aforementioned questions to gain insight and appreciation…

B5 and Cysteine Supplementation: Do They Increase Energy Production?

Coenzyme A (CoA) is an enzyme considered an essential cofactor for biochemical reactions, to include energy production (represented as ATP in above image). As such, CoA has gained attention as a possible means of enhancing health and performance by researchers such as Wall, Stephens, Marimuthu, Contstantin-Teodosiu, Macdonald, and Greenhaff (2012). In the following sections, this…

Neuromuscular Dysregulation and Electrolyte Deficiencies

The human body communicates, interacts, and coordinates with itself and the external environment through a dense network of electrochemical conduits, colloquially known as the nerves or nervous system (NS) (Kenney, Wilmore, & Costill, 2012). Virtually all tissues, organs, motor, and sensory systems are fully integrated with the NS; like a conductor in an orchestra, the…

Mitochondria and Cardiac Health: Exploring the Connection

The heart is a muscle (cardiac muscle) critical to sustaining life and homeostasis. Such an organ serves as a pump, which propels blood towards the lungs and other tissues via associated vasculature (Reisner & Reisner, 2017). Cardiac muscle is designed to work in almost near perpetuity; other muscles (i.e., skeletal) are not always required to…

Low-Density Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Risk

Atherosclerosis can be defined as the buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery walls (plaque), which can restrict blood flow (Mayo Clinic, 2018). Said condition can manifest as early as childhood with the development and deposition of fatty cholesterol streaks along the endothelium (blood vessel wall) (Lee & Nieman, 2013)….