Nitric Oxide: The New Hero of Human Biology

Definition of Nitric oxide

Nitric oxide: A compound that is toxic but which, paradoxically, plays a number of important roles in the body, including the following:
It acts as a vasodilator (blood vessel relaxant).
It therefore controls blood flow to tissues.
It regulates the binding and release of oxygen to hemoglobin.
It thereby controls the supply of oxygen to mitochondria (cell powerhouses that generate energy).
It kills parasitic organisms, virus-infected cells, and tumor cells (by inactivating respiratory chain enzymes in their mitochondria).
It stimulates the production of new mitochondria.

Twenty minutes on a treadmill will certainly help you fit into that one-size-too-small dress. But new research suggests that exercise may also help increase the production of nitric oxide, a substance that does a variety of important jobs in the body, perhaps none more valuable than to help prevent heart disease.
"Nitric oxide does a variety of jobs," explains Dr. Jason Allen of Duke University. "It tends to be antiatherogenic, which means that it helps prevent your arteries from becoming clogged. From start to finish, this is a 40-year process which depends on lifestyle." That is, it's a function of what you eat, how you exercise, and the stresses you are under.
Allen and colleagues have been studying the production of nitric oxide synthase, the enzyme that is responsible for producing nitric oxide. They have found that exercise increases production of the enzyme, which then increases the chances that the nitric oxide levels in the blood will increase and protect the artery lining.
The Duke researchers' first report, which was released in November 2003, found that exercise especially helped those people who were labeled "at-risk" for heart disease. In blood samples taken after exercise, they had an "almost doubling of the brachial artery reactivity," said Allen. This means that while exercise is beneficial for everyone, those with more risk factors may get extra benefit from exercise.

Amino Acid L-Arginine: Food Sources, Health Benefits and Side Effects

What is l-arginine?

Arginine is one of the 20 amino acids that constitute protein. It exists as L-arginine and D-arginine form. However, the L-arginine is the more compatible form to our body. Because L-arginine can be synthesized in our body, it is called non-essential amino acid. The exception is newborn infants are unable to produce L-arginine and therefore their only source for it is food.
Health Benefits of L-arginine

L-arginine is a precursor of nitric oxide and other metabolites, a component of collagen, enzymes and hormones (eg. vasopressin), ejaculate (seminal fluid and sperm), skin and connective tissues. L-arginine plays important roles in the synthesis of various protein molecules (eg. creatine and insulin). It may have antioxidant property and reduces accumualtion of compounds such as ammonia and plasma lactate, byproducts of physical exercise. It inhibits platelet aggregation and can also decrease blood pressure.

L-arginine is converted to nitric oxide which aids in the relaxation of blood vessels. The effect is better blood circulation in the body and especially in the extremities (eg. genitalia). For this reason L-arginine helps in stimulating and maintaining erection (at least in males). Men with erectile dysfunction may benefit from intake of L-arginine rich foods or l-arginine supplement. L-arginine is a major component of ejaculate (seminal fluid and sperm) and there fore it is important for maintaining healthy ejaculate volume.

Other L-arginine benefits include maintainance of nitrogen balance, removal of excess ammonia, liver detoxification, reduction of alcohol toxicity effects, wound healing, and treatment of sterility in men.

L-arginine Side effects

L-arginine undermines the effect of lysine in suppression of viral infection. Therefore, for a person infected with viruses (eg. person with herpes), it is recommended to reduce L-arginine supplement dosage or not to eat foods high in L-arginine. Pregnant and lactating women are advised to be cautious with their arginine intake and dosage. Other side effects of L-arginine (when taken in high dosage and for long term) are thickening and coarsening of skin.
According to some human studies, arginine-HCL consumed at high doses (> 9 g/d) has been associated with nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, and diarrhea.

Arginine Deficiency

Deficiency of arginine could result delay in sexual maturity, impairment of the production of insulin, glucose tolerance, and liver lipid metabolism.

Food Sources of L-arginine

L-arginine is found in high content in protein rich foods such as peanuts, walnuts, brazilnuts, cocunut, animal products (milk and milk products, pork, beef, chicken, turkey), seafoods, cereals (oats and wheat), and chocolate. Legumes such as soybean and chickpea are also rich natural sources of L-arginine.

L-arginine related articles:

List of foods high in arginine content L-arginine, nitric oxide and erection (erectile dysfunction) Eating watermelon increases arginine level

Herbs and sexuality:Yohimbe: health benefits and side effectsGinseng: health benefits and side effectsGinkgo Biloba: health benefits and side effectsL-arginine, nitric oxide and erection (erectile dysfunction)

Erectile dysfunction related articles: What is erectile dysfunction? How does erection occur? What are the causes of erectile dysfunction? What are the treatments for erectile dysfunction?

What is the Gallbladder?

The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ that stores and concentrates bile. The gallbladder is connected to the liver by the hepatic duct. It is approximately 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10.2 cm) long and about 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide.
The gallbladder is also called a 'gall bladder'.

What is its Function?

The function of the gallbladder is to store bile and concentrate. Bile is a digestive liquid continually secreted by the liver. The bile emulsifies fats and neutralizes acids in partly digested food. A muscular valve in the common bile duct opens, and the bile flows from the gallbladder into the cystic duct, along the common bile duct, and into the duodenum (part of the small intestine).

Conditions and Diseases of the gallbladder

Sometimes the substances contained in bile crystallize in the gallbladder, forming gallstones. These small, hard concretions are more common in persons over 40, especially in women and the obese. They can cause inflammation of the gallbladder, a disorder that produces symptoms similar to those of indigestion, especially after a fatty meal is consumed. If a stone becomes lodged in the bile duct, it produces severe pain. Gallstones may pass out of the body spontaneously; however, serious blockage is treated by removing the gallbladder surgically.

Liver

What is the Liver?

The liver is the largest glandular organ of the body. It weighs about 3 lb (1.36 kg). It is reddish brown in color and is divided into four lobes of unequal size and shape. The liver lies on the right side of the abdominal cavity beneath the diaphragm.

Blood is carried to the liver via two large vessels called the hepatic artery and the portal vein. The heptic artery carries oxygen-rich blood from the aorta (a major vessel in the heart). The portal vein carries blood containing digested food from the small intestine.

These blood vessels subdivide in the liver repeatedly, terminating in very small capillaries. Each capillary leads to a lobule. Liver tissue is composed of thousands of lobules, and each lobule is made up of hepatic cells, the basic metabolic cells of the liver.

What is its major function?

The liver has many functions. Some of the functions are:

• to produce substances that break down fats,
• convert glucose to glycogen,
• produce urea (the main substance of urine),
• make certain amino acids (the building blocks of proteins),
• filter harmful substances from the blood (such as alcohol),
• storage of vitamins and minerals (vitamins A, D, K and B12) and
• maintain a proper level or glucose in the blood.

The liver is also responsible for producing cholesterol. It produces about 80% of the cholesterol in your body.

Diseases of the Liver

Several diseases states can affect the liver. Some of the diseases are:

• Wilson's Disease,
• hepatitis (an inflammation of the liver),
• liver cancer, and
• cirrhosis (a chronic inflammation that progresses ultimately to organ failure).

Alcohol alters the metabolism of the liver, which can have overall detrimental effects if alcohol is taken over long periods of time.
Hemochromatosis can cause liver problems.

Medications that negatively effect the liver

Medications have side effects that may harm your liver. Some of the medications that can damage your liver are:

• serzone,
• anti-cancer drugs (tagfur, MTX, and cytoxan), and
• medications used to treat diabetes.
  

Serzone is a prescription drug manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb for the treatment of depression. The possible side effects of Serzone® are:

• agitation,
• dizziness,
• clumsiness or unsteadiness,
• difficulty concentrating,
• memory problems,
• confusion,
• severe nausea,
• gastroenteritis,
• abdominal pain,
• unusually dark urine,
• difficult or frequent urination,
• fainting,
• skin rash or
• hives yellowing of the skin or
• whites of the eyes (jaundice) or
• a prolonged loss of weight or loss of appetite.

If you or a family member have suffered serious side effects or a fatal injury after taking Serzone®, you or the family member may be eligible to file a claim against the manufacturer. You should contact an attorney that specializes in class action lawsuits immediately.

To help prevent liver damage, let your doctor know about your liver condition when being treated for other conditions. Medications come in many forms and it is best to find out what is in them and what it can do to your liver.

An Introduction to Cholesterol

Introduction
Lipids are the building blocks of the fats and fatty substances found in animals and plants. They are microscopic layered spheres of oil, which, in animals, are composed mainly of cholesterol, triglycerides, proteins (called lipoproteins), and phospholipids (molecules made up of phosphoric acid, fatty acids, and nitrogen). Lipids do not dissolve in water and are stored in the body to serve as sources of energy.

Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a white, powdery substance that is found in all animal cells and in animal-based foods (not in plants). In spite of its bad press, cholesterol is an essential nutrient necessary for many functions, including:

• Repairing cell membranes
• Manufacturing vitamin D on the skin's surface
• Producing hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone
• Possibly helping cell connections in the brain that are important for learning and memory
  

Regardless of these benefits, when cholesterol levels rise in the blood, they can have dangerous consequences, depending on the type of cholesterol. Although the body acquires some cholesterol through diet, about two-thirds is manufactured in the liver, its production stimulated by saturated fat. Saturated fats are found in animal products, meat, and dairy products.

Saturated fats are found predominantly in animal products such as meat and dairy products, and are strongly associated with higher cholesterol levels. Tropical oils -- such as palm, coconut, and coconut butter -- are also high in saturated fats.

Triglycerides
Triglycerides are composed of fatty acid molecules. They are the basic chemicals contained in fats in both animals and plants.

Lipoproteins
Lipoproteins are protein spheres that transport cholesterol, triglyceride, or other lipid molecules through the bloodstream. Most of the information about the effects of cholesterol and triglyceride actually concerns lipoproteins.

Lipoproteins are categorized into five types according to size and density. They can be further defined by whether they carry cholesterol or triglycerides.

Cholesterol-Carrying Lipoproteins. These are the lipoproteins commonly referred to as cholesterol.

• Low density lipoproteins (LDL). (Often called the "bad" cholesterol.)
• High-density lipoproteins (HDL), the smallest and most dense. (Referred to as the "good" cholesterol.)

Triglyceride-Carrying Lipoproteins.

• Intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL). They tend to carry triglycerides.
• Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). These tend to carry triglycerides.
• Chylomicrons (largest in size and lowest in density).
  

Lipoprotein(a). Lipoprotein(a), or lp(a) has a size and density somewhere between LDL and HDL. The molecules carry a protein that may interfere with the body's ability to dissolve blood clots. Lipoprotein(a) is being investigated as a possible marker or cause of heart disease.

Remnant Lipoproteins.

Remnant lipoproteins are byproducts of chylomicrons, very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), or both. Some research indicates that high levels may be an important risk factor for coronary artery disease, particularly in patients who have otherwise normal cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol Guidelines
Reducing LDL and total cholesterol levels, while at the same time boosting HDL levels, can prevent heart attacks and death in all people (with or without heart disease). Reducing LDL is the primary goal of most cholesterol therapy.

Blood tests can easily measure both HDL and overall cholesterol levels. It is very difficult to measure LDL levels by themselves, but LDL levels can be reliably calculated by subtracting HDL and triglyceride levels from total cholesterol. The exact formula is:

LDL = TOTAL CHOLESTEROL - HDL - TRIGLYCERIDES/5.

In 2004, the National Cholesterol Education Program updated its clinical practice guidelines. The new recommendations set lower treatment goals for LDL levels based on a patient's risk factors for heart disease.
The risk factors include:

• Having a first-degree female relative diagnosed with heart disease before age 65 or a first-degree male relative diagnosed before age 55
• Being male and over age 45 or female and over age 55
• Cigarette smoking
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Metabolic syndrome (risk factors associated with obesity such as low HDL levels and high triglycerides)

Two or more of these risk factors increases by 20% the chance of having a heart attack within 10 years.

The LDL cholesterol level is one of the most important factors in determining whether a patient needs cholesterol therapy and whether the treatment is working properly. In particular, the new guidelines emphasize lower LDL levels and earlier treatment for people with coronary artery disease, or other forms of atherosclerosis, and diabetes.

Potassium Benefits

Potassium is an electrolyte (a substance that maintains your body's fluid levels), this mineral helps regulate blood pressure and heart function. Research shows that increasing your potassium intake can lower your blood pressure. Those individuals with existing hypertension, as well as those just looking to keep their blood pressure in check, can benefit from potassium.A Harvard study showed that men who took a potassium supplement with a diuretic decreased their incidence of stroke by 60 percent, compared to men who did not. Potassium neutralizes acids and restores alkaline salts to the bloodstream. Potassium works with sodium in all cells including at nerve synapses to maintain or restore membrane potentials and to assist in metabolic processes. Potassium is critical to our cardiovascular and nerve functioning, regulating the transfer of nutrients into cells and facilitating muscle energy.Potassium also regulates water balance and assists recuperative powers. Potassium aids rheumatic or arthritic conditions (causing acids to leave the joints and ease stiffness). Potassium is crucial for the elimination of wastes. Potassium is a natural pain desensitizer. Potassium helps control convulsions, headaches and migraines, promotes faster healing of cuts, bruises and other injuries and generally contributes to a sense of well being. Potassium is stored in the muscles. Body builders use a “potassium load” to give their muscles more energy but there is no scientific proof of its effectiveness.Potassium naturally wants to bind to something to form a potassium compound. Since the human body is very inefficient at breaking down compound minerals, only a small percentage of the Potassium we consume actually gets used. To be utilized, Potassium must be in elemental form. The Potassium molecule needs be small enough to enter an individual cell, and it must be inside a water molecule.Thus, Potassium must be water-soluble. Water-soluble minerals cannot build up in the body. Therefore they do not reach toxic levels. You can also get your potassium by eating lots of produce - bananas, orange juice, dried dates, and apricots. You need about 3,500 mg daily, but over-the-counter supplements contain no more than 99 mg.The small amount of potassium in your multivitamin is fine, and don’t take more than 99 mg daily in supplement form because it can irritate your stomach. The effective dose of potassium you need? Take a multivitamin and eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.Potassium taken in excess can throw off your electrolyte balance and slow your heart down to dangerous levels. Potassium supplementation is, however, important for people taking certain types of diuretics, those that are non-potassium sparing such as Lasix.Some Symptoms of Potassium Deficiency include poor circulation, bluish tint to skin, Chronic-Fatigue Syndrome, diabetes, earaches, edema, headaches, heart palpitations, hypertension, insomnia, intestinal pain, muscle weakness, oppressive breathing, pain in the eyes, prolapsed uterus, swollen glands, tissue anemia, and water retention.All wasting diseases are associated with loss of potassium from the tissues. Potassium deficiency disturbs the excitability of tissues and leads to paralysis of muscle, including cardiac muscle. Sodium and potassium are two of the most important ions in maintaining the homeostatic equilibrium of the body fluids.It is important that one be very careful in choosing a top quality supplement manufacturer when buying your mineral, including potassium. Take the following precautions when doing so: Because minerals work synergistically, it is important that your supplement be formulated by scientists with top notch credentials. Many products on the market are simply “thrown together” and many of the ingredients can end up canceling each other out or even have harmful consequences. Moreover, supplements that are not scientifically formulated generally have poor bioavailability, which means that most of the ingredients will simply pass through the system and excreted with little to no benefit. Because the supplement industry is not regulated in the U.S., consumers only have a one in five chance of buying what is stated on the label. Not only that, but many supplements have been verified by independent third party tests to have toxic contaminants, such as lead. It is therefore absolutely crucial that you choose a manufacturer that follows pharmaceutical GMP compliance, which is the highest standard possible.Choose a mineral supplement that uses the chelated form. Chelated minerals are ones that are attached to protein molecules, which in turns allows them easier transport into the bloodstream for better absorption. Minerals that can come in chelated form are: boron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, vanadium. Call or email the company and ask if they have a certificate of analysis on file, confirming the potency of each batch. Avoid companies that do not respond or waver in their answer.

Synthetic Vitamins Danger

Here are some facts that you won’t find advertised on most of the vitamin supplements at your local vitamin store:

The majority of commercial vitamin supplements are made up of synthetic vitamins.

Synthetic vitamins do not perform the same functions in your body as vitamins found naturally in whole food.

Many synthetic vitamins deplete your body of other nutrients and tax your kidneys before being excreted through your urine. If you want a comprehensive understanding of what vitamins are and what they do in your body, it would be best to take a full course in biochemistry. Do you remember all of those molecular formulas and chemical reactions that you studied in your high school chemistry class? Biochemistry is really just an extension of chemistry, with an emphasis on the thousands of chemical reactions that occur in your body on a moment-to-moment basis. Anyone who studies biochemistry learns that vitamins do not exist as single components that act on their own. Vitamins are made up of several different components –

• enzymes,
• co-enzymes,
• and co-factors–

that must work together to produce their intended biologic effects. Vitamins that are found naturally in whole foods come with all of their necessary components. The majority of vitamins that are sold in pharmacies, grocery stores, and vitamin shops are synthetic vitamins, which are only isolated portions of the vitamins that occur naturally in food.

A good example is vitamin C. If you take a look at a variety of vitamin C supplements, you will find that the majority of them contain only ascorbic acid or a compound called ascorbate, which is a less acidic form of acorbic acid.

Ascorbic acid is NOT vitamin C.

It represents the outer ring that serves as a protective shell for the entire vitamin C complex, much like an orange peel that serves as a protective shell for an orange.

Real vitamin C found in whole foods like fruits and vegetables contain the following components:

• Rutin
• Bioflavonoids (vitamin P)
• Factor K
• Factor J
• Factor P
• Tyrosinase
• Ascorbinogen
• Ascorbic Acid
  

When you take only ascorbic acid found in your synthetic vitamin C tablet or powder, your body must gather all of the other components of the full vitamin C complex from your body’s tissues in order to make use of it. In the event that your body does not have adequate reserves of the other components, ascorbic acid itself does not provide any of the health benefits that the full vitamin C complex does. After circulating through your system, the unused ascorbic acid is eliminated through your urine.

Just like vitamin C, almost all other vitamins that we know of offer their full health benefits when they are in the presence of a number of

enzymes, co-enzymes, co-factors, and even minerals.

For example:

• Vitamin D may have as many as twelve different active components,
• while vitamin P has at least five different components.
• The mineral copper is needed for full vitamin C activity,
• while vitamin E works closely with the mineral selenium to provide its health promoting, anti-oxidative effect.

Clearly, it is best to get your vitamins from whole foods because whole foods provide complete vitamins rather than fractions of them. In many cases, whole foods also provide the minerals that are necessary for optimal vitamin activity. For example, sunflower seeds are an excellent whole food source of vitamin E and the mineral selenium, both of which need each other to offer their full health benefits. How do you know if the vitamins on your kitchen counter are from whole foods or if they are synthetic?

If the list of ingredients includes an actual vitamin like “Vitamin C” rather than an actual food that contains natural vitamin C like “acerola cherry powder”, you can bet that it is a synthetic vitamin.

If you choose to use nutritional supplements, it is in your best interest to use only those products that list actual foods as their ingredients rather than synthetic and isolated vitamins. While some synthetic and isolated vitamins have been shown to provide minimal health benefits, on the whole, most of them cause more harm than good and you are far better off spending your money on whole foods. It is important to note that the principles in this article are just as relevant and applicable to minerals and mineral supplements.