Latest news with #Physiology
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Potassium-rich foods to lower blood pressure: Bananas and broccoli explained
High blood pressure is one of the most common health concerns worldwide, yet many people focus only on cutting salt to manage it. While reducing sodium can help, it is not the only or even the most effective way to bring blood pressure down. New research from the University of Waterloo suggests that increasing potassium intake through foods such as bananas, sweet potatoes, spinach and broccoli could have an even greater impact. In a study published in the American Journal of Physiology – Renal Physiology , researchers led by Anita Layton used a detailed mathematical model to examine how dietary changes affect blood pressure regulation. They found that raising the potassium-to-sodium ratio consistently lowered blood pressure, even when salt levels stayed the same. The effect was particularly strong in men, who showed greater improvement from higher potassium intake compared to women. High blood pressure affects more than 30 percent of adults worldwide and increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney problems. This research offers a simple, accessible and science-backed approach for prevention. Rather than focusing only on reducing sodium, adding more potassium-rich foods to daily meals could become a key part of heart-healthy diets. Experts believe this shift in focus from restriction to nutrient balance could help improve cardiovascular health for millions of people. How potassium-rich foods help lower blood pressure naturally Potassium plays a vital role in regulating blood pressure by helping the kidneys flush out excess sodium through urine. This action reduces fluid retention, which in turn eases the strain on blood vessel walls and allows the heart to pump more efficiently. Over time, this can significantly lower the risk of hypertension-related complications such as stroke, heart attack and kidney damage. The University of Waterloo researchers found that even without lowering salt intake, boosting potassium intake led to marked improvements in cardiovascular health markers. Men, in particular, showed stronger benefits from higher potassium consumption compared to women. This indicates that potassium has a blood pressure–lowering effect that works independently of sodium restriction. These results highlight how simple dietary changes, such as adding more potassium-rich foods like bananas, spinach, lentils and sweet potatoes, can be an easy yet powerful strategy for improving heart health. For millions of people living with or at risk of high blood pressure, focusing on nutrient balance rather than strict salt reduction may offer a more sustainable and effective path to long-term wellness Why bananas and broccoli are top potassium-rich foods for heart health Bananas and broccoli stand out as potassium-rich foods because they are widely available, affordable and versatile enough to fit into almost any diet. A medium banana contains about 422 milligrams of potassium, while a cup of cooked broccoli offers around 457 milligrams. These amounts contribute meaningfully toward the daily recommended intake, making them practical choices for supporting blood pressure regulation. Beyond potassium, bananas supply natural sugars for quick energy, dietary fiber for better digestion and vitamin B6 for nerve and metabolic health. Broccoli brings its own powerful mix of nutrients, including vitamin C for immune support, vitamin K for blood clotting and bone strength, and antioxidants that protect cells from damage. Together, they provide a nutrient-dense combination that benefits heart health, supports healthy circulation and promotes overall wellness. Whether blended into smoothies, tossed into salads, steamed as a side dish or eaten as a quick snack, adding bananas and broccoli to your daily routine is a simple step with long-term cardiovascular benefits. Potassium-to-sodium ratio: The key to controlling blood pressure The study highlighted that it is the balance between potassium and sodium that matters most, rather than focusing solely on cutting salt. Maintaining an ideal potassium-to-sodium ratio supports vascular health, helps keep arteries flexible, and lowers the risk of hypertension. This nutrient balance improves blood flow and reduces strain on the heart over time. Researchers noted that this approach could be especially valuable in populations where salt consumption is high but potassium intake remains low, a pattern common in many parts of the world. By encouraging the inclusion of more potassium-rich foods rather than relying only on sodium restriction, public health programmes could offer a simpler and more sustainable way to reduce cardiovascular risk on a large scale. Practical tips to increase potassium-rich foods in your diet Add sliced bananas to breakfast cereals or smoothies. Steam or stir-fry broccoli as a side dish for lunch or dinner. Include other potassium sources like spinach, lentils, and sweet potatoes. Balance high-potassium foods with moderate salt use for the best results. While reducing salt remains beneficial for heart health, the new findings suggest that increasing potassium-rich foods could have an even greater effect on lowering blood pressure. For most people, this does not require drastic or restrictive diets. Instead, it can be achieved through small, consistent changes such as adding bananas to breakfast, including leafy greens in lunch or dinner, and choosing beans or lentils as a regular protein source. These adjustments not only support healthy blood pressure but also provide a range of other nutrients that benefit overall wellbeing. By focusing on what to add rather than only on what to cut, people can improve heart health without sacrificing flavour or variety in their meals. Also read| Can your daily cup of coffee or tea boost your mood? Science weighs in
RNZ News
08-08-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Why is sleep sometimes not restful?
Photo: Unsplash Sleep should be restful, but sometimes it is not. So why is that? New research from the University of Otago has found that stress-controlling brain cells - called corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons - switch on and off in a steady rhythm about once every hour while we are asleep - even when nothing stressful is happening. It is world-first research that could reveal how these patterns affect health, mood, and sleep. Senior author Associate Professor Karl Iremonger, of Otago's Department of Physiology and Centre for Neuroendocrinology, told Saturday Morning that these bursts of brain cell activity seem to act like a natural 'wake-up' signal, and often lead to a rise in stress hormones, or cortisol. He said there were a lot of things that can disrupt the circuitry in our brain that controls the release and response of stress hormones - such as chronic stress, which is associated with negative health consequences. "So now we're really interested in trying to come up with treatments and drugs that can dampen down the activity of these stress neurons in these states where they're too active," Iremonger said. The study was conducted with rates and mice, as the stress-controlling brain cells are too deep down in humans to be recorded, Iremonger added. It was found that these brain cells were not only controlling our stress, but also our arousal or wakefulness state too, which can both affect the quality of our sleep as well as cause disorders like insomnia. "Knowing how these brain signals work will help us understand the links between stress hormone levels, alertness, and mental health." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
CNN
06-08-2025
- Health
- CNN
RFK Jr. slashed mRNA vaccine development funding. A Nobel Prize winner just responded
US Health and Human Services is 'winding down' its mRNA vaccine development and will instead fund other vaccine platforms through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, the agency said. 2023 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine Katalin Karikó reacts.
Irish Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Eating this household fruit could lower high blood pressure, say experts
Could eating bananas be the secret to keeping high blood pressure at bay? It seems that may indeed be the case, according to recent Canadian research which hints at the benefits of boosting the dietary potassium to sodium ratio for reducing blood pressure. Speaking on the findings, Dr Anita Layton from the University of Waterloo in Ontario said: "Usually, when we have high blood pressure, we are advised to eat less salt. Our research suggests that adding more potassium-rich foods to your diet, such as bananas or broccoli, might have a greater positive impact on your blood pressure than just cutting sodium." Given our ancestral diets were rich in fruits and vegetables offering a high intake of potassium versus sodium, it's suggested by researchers that human regulatory systems could be optimized for such a nutritional balance. Lead author of the study, Melissa Stadt, said: "Today, western diets tend to be much higher in sodium and lower in potassium. That may explain why high blood pressure is found mainly in industrialized societies, not in isolated societies." Building upon existing evidence that boosting potassium can aid blood pressure control, the team has developed a mathematical model pinpointing how potassium-to-sodium ratios affect the human body, reports Surrey Live. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can lead to serious health issues such as heart attacks or strokes. However, it can be managed through lifestyle modifications and medication. It's particularly prevalent among the elderly, with risk factors including age, poor diet, and obesity. Other contributing factors include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, long-term stress, and ethnicity - with those of Black African, Black Caribbean, or South Asian descent being more susceptible, according to NHS guidelines. If you suspect you may have hypertension, are at risk, or are over 40 and haven't had a check-up in over five years, it's recommended to get your blood pressure checked. While it typically doesn't present any symptoms, some people may experience headaches, chest pain, and blurred vision. The study, published in the American Journal of Physiology, Renal Physiology, also examined the impact of gender on hypertension risk. The findings revealed that men across all races are more likely to develop high blood pressure than pre-menopausal women of the same age. However, the research noted that post-menopause, the prevalence of hypertension in women begins to increase, eventually surpassing that of men. To maintain a healthy blood pressure, the NHS recommends sticking to a balanced diet and getting in at least 150 minutes of exercise each week. If you're carrying extra weight, shedding some pounds could also be beneficial.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
There is a 'third state' between life and death
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The death of an organism does not spell the end for its cells, according to new research. Cells have been shown to continue to function even after the organism they originated from is deceased, oftentimes developing new biological functions. The findings call into question what defines life and death, and open up a new area of medicine. The new research, published in the journal Physiology, suggests the boundary between life and death may not be as clear-cut as previously thought. "Life and death are traditionally viewed as opposites," said study co-authors Peter Noble, a microbiology professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Alex Pozhitkov, a bioinformatics researcher at the City of Hope cancer center, on The Conversation. "However, the emergence of new multicellular lifeforms from the cells of a dead organism introduces a 'third state' that lies beyond the conventional boundaries of life and death." There has been a range of evidence that the death of an organism does not necessarily signal the death of its cells, especially with organ, tissue and cell transplants. The new review expands on that idea, looking at other studies showing "the incredible capability of cells to reorganize and take on new forms after the death of the organism," said Essentially, "under the right conditions — when provided with nutrients, oxygen, bioelectricity or biochemical cues — certain cells can grow into multicellular organisms with new functions after death," said IFLScience. One of the most promising pieces of research was a 2021 study that found the skin cells from dead frogs could spontaneously reorganize to form multicellular organisms called "xenobots." These are "cells that form new roles beyond their original biological function," said Popular Mechanics, like "using hairlike cilia for locomotion rather than transporting mucus." Xenobots also showed the ability to collect material, record information, self-heal and limit replication. Similar results have been found in human lung cells, "which can assemble into miniature multicellular organisms called anthrobots, move around and even repair themselves and nearby neurons," said IFL Science. Both of those findings "demonstrate the inherent plasticity of cellular systems and challenge the idea that cells and organisms can evolve only in predetermined ways," said Noble and Pozhitkov. "The third state suggests that organismal death may play a significant role in how life transforms over time." Cells can enter a third state only under certain conditions, however, and researchers are still not entirely sure how they can continue to function after the death of the organism. One explanation, "reminiscent of Frankenstein-style ideas," said "involves a hidden system of 'electrical circuits' that reanimate the cells." Others have posited that when "cells are taken out of context and are no longer exchanging information or signals from nearby cells, different genes can be expressed than what's normal," said Popular Mechanics. The findings have also given rise to the idea that cells may have a level of "consciousness" that allows them to have their own agency. Exploring this third state "represents a novel and exciting avenue for medical research," Noble said to IFL Science. "Cells in the third state may potentially be engineered to solve medical problems, such as serving as drug delivery systems."
