Posted by dermcareonline on February 26, 2010 under acanthosis nigricans, diabetes, obesity | 
The first lady Michelle Obama has taken on the issue of fighting childhood obesity. She has already launched the nationwide “Let’s Move” campaign to target educating parents on nutrition and exercise, improving the quality of food in the schools, increasing physical activity, and making healthier foods more affordable. Obesity in American children is a serious problem and on the rise.
Some children and adults who are overweight, develop a condition called acanthosis nigricans on their skin. It appears like a thickened dark velvety patch around the neck and between the breasts. It is now well known that acanthosis nigricans is associated with obesity and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance has been found in up to 90% of youth with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Youth with type 2 diabetes are also at risk for heart disease, hyertension and abnormal blood lipid levels. You can safely draw the conclusion that an obese adolescent with acanthosis nigricans needs aggressive screening and intervention to prevent diabetes, hypertension, and abnormal cholesterol levels.
Some reports reveal that 1 in every 5 (20%) of african american and latino youths are overweight. Many of them have acanthosis nigricans on the neck and between the breasts. That means that a large portion of this population will eventually develop serious and complicated medical issues. Diabetes can lead to vision impairment, amputation of limbs, dialysis. Hypertension and cardiovascular disease can lead to strokes, heart attacks, and leg ulcers.
As Mrs. Obama proposes, aggressive education and intervention at an early age is critical for keeping our children healthy for the future.
Posted by dermcareonline on January 21, 2010 under cholesterol, diet, omega-3 fatty acids, psoriasis |
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids. That means they cannot be made by the body, so you need to get it from your diet, in food. They are also called polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is a major types of omega-3 fatty acids ingested in foods. After ALA is injested, it is broken down into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in cold water oily fish like salmon, black cod, herring, mackrel, tuna, and halibut. It is also found in marine life like algae and krill, plants (purslane) and nuts and seeds like walnut, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, and flax seeds.
The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least two times a week. It is advised that pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children avoid swordfish, shark, and king mackeral. They should take dietary supplements of omegy-3 fatty acids that are mercury free.
Omega-3 fatty acids have many advantages for your health.
- reduces inflammation (anti-inflammatory)
- prevents heart disease and coronary artery stenosis
- lowers triglyceride (TG) levels (bad cholesterol)
- increases high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels (good cholesterol)
- lowers blood clotting
- helps with rheumatoid arthritis
- helps with schizophrenia, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD)
Symptoms of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency include
- extreme fatigue (feeling very tired)
- poor memory
- mood swings, depression
- poor circulation
- heart problems
- dry skin
How do omega-3 fatty acids improve your skin?
Studies have shown that even though Eskimos live in cold climates when psoriasis should get worse, Eskimos have a lower incidence of psoriaisis. So what are they doing right? Eskimos eat a lot of fish, so their diet is high in fish oil (which contains omega-3 fatty acids; ALA, EPA, and DHA).
In psoriasis, the immune system causes leukocyte infiltration and skin cells to grow rapidly, hence the thick plaques on the knees, elbows, and scalp. It is believed that this is secondary to amino acid metabolytes in the epidermis (upper layer of the skin). It is possible that by eating more omega-3 (anti-inflammatory), inflammation is reduced, and psoriasis gets better.
The studies are conflicting, and not everyone believes that this diet shows benefit for people that suffer with psoriasis. However, since the omega-3 fatty acids have overall health benefits, we should consider adding more omega-3 fatty acids to our diet, promoting heart and brain health, and possibly the skin as well.
The Mediterranean diet has a good balance of various fatty acids, and could be used to improve your overall health.
