Latest news with #Shape
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Shape Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data Highlighting Therapeutic Potential of RNA Editing and AAV Delivery Platforms at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy 28th Annual Meeting
Industry-leading RNA editing activity in the CNS of both mice and non-human primates highlights the broad applicability and therapeutic potential of the RNAfix® platform in CNS diseases Preclinical data showcases first demonstration of systemically delivered RNA editing in a primate brain, enabled by a blood-brain barrier (BBB) crossing AAV5 variant TruStable™ system demonstrates greatly increased scalability and consistency vs existing methods of AAV production across multiple serotypes SEATTLE, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shape Therapeutics, a leader in RNA-based gene therapy, today announced that the Company presented data demonstrating the potential of its RNAfix® platform to restore protein function and reduce pathogenic proteins implicated in multiple neurological diseases, and to deliver the therapies efficiently with novel brain-targeting AAV capsids. The Company also presented data highlighting the versatility of its TruStable™ platform to achieve high quality vectors with improved process yield and consistency, resulting in overall reduced costs. These data were shared in multiple oral and poster presentations at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) 28th Annual Meeting taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana, May 13-17, 2025. 'The preclinical data we presented at this year's ASGCT meeting further highlight our transformational genetic medicine and scalable manufacturing platforms,' said David Huss, Ph.D., CSO and acting CEO of Shape Therapeutics. 'We were particularly pleased to showcase our novel brain-penetrating capsids that represent the first demonstration of systemically delivered RNA editing in a primate brain, the highest primate neuronal targeting by a blood-brain barrier-crossing AAV variant and the highest targeting of the primate substantia nigra seen with any novel brain therapy. These data, coupled with the AAV vectors produced via our TruStable™ producer platform, underscore the high-value, low-cost potential of our gene therapy assets.' Key findings from the presentations at ASGCT include: AAV5-Based Capsid Variants: Novel AAV5-based capsids generated by Shape's platform efficiently cross the BBB of cynomolgus macaques after IV injection while showing extensive liver and DRG detargeting. Two capsids, SHP-DB1 and SHP-DB2, showed particularly strong delivery to deep brain regions, with payload expression observed in >96% of all neurons in the substantia nigra, the critical brain region in Parkinson's disease. SHP-DB1 and SHP-DB2 delivered efficient targeted RNA editing across the NHP brain from a single IV injection, with up to 88% editing observed in RNA from brain biopsies. Programmable RNA Editing in the CNS: Shape's RNAfix® platform uses guide RNAs (gRNAs) that harness the natural Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADAR) enzyme to therapeutically edit sites in patient RNA. gRNAs engineered with AI for potency and specificity enable therapeutic levels of protein modulation in multiple CNS diseases, demonstrating the broad applicability and enormous therapeutic potential of the RNAfix® platform for CNS diseases. In a mouse model of Rett syndrome, gRNAs targeting the R168X mutation in the MECP2 gene achieved broad distribution throughout the brain following IV injection, enabling 52-69% editing of the target mRNA and restoring full-length MECP2 protein in ~39% of all cells. In a mouse model of neurodegenerative disease, RNAfix gRNAs achieved >70% reduction of targeted pathogenic protein in iPSC-derived glutamatergic neurons and >50% protein knockdown in the mouse brain following a single systemic AAV dose. In a third neurological disease, RNAfix gRNAs achieved >90% protein knockdown in human neurons and >60% knockdown in mouse brain. RNAfix is designed for a 'one-and-done' therapeutic approach, supported by full maintenance of high efficiency editing in the mouse brain one year post-dosing. TruStable™ AAV Manufacturing: Shape's fully stable AAV producer cell line platform, TruStable, was shown to generate higher quantities and quality of material than a traditional transient transfection method. TruStable™ production cell line produced ~15-fold more AAV with ~3-fold higher packaging percentage than the comparator triple transfection system, resulting in ~30-fold more material generated per cell culture volume after final purification. In-vitro potency results suggest that the TruStable™ derived material is ~2-fold as potent as triple transfection when comparing the upper asymptote of the 4PL dose response curve. The TruStable™ producer cell line can now efficiently produce multiple AAV serotypes by integrating Adenoviral L4 helper factor, which broadens the applicability of the platform and support high-titer, reproducible production of diverse AAV vectors. About Shape Therapeutics ShapeTX is an AI-driven genomic medicines company focused on creating curative and transformative medicines through its programmable RNA editing technology. By focusing on three differentiated pillars of value, ShapeTX utilizes its RNAfix® technology, targeted delivery system and TruStable™ manufacturing platform to advance a strong internal pipeline of RNA therapeutics across a wide range of diseases, including ABCA4-related diseases and neurological disorders. You can find us at and on LinkedIn and X. Investor Contact:Anne Marie FieldsPrecision Media Contact:info@ in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Shape Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data Highlighting Therapeutic Potential of RNA Editing and AAV Delivery Platforms at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy 28th Annual Meeting
Industry-leading RNA editing activity in the CNS of both mice and non-human primates highlights the broad applicability and therapeutic potential of the RNAfix® platform in CNS diseases Preclinical data showcases first demonstration of systemically delivered RNA editing in a primate brain, enabled by a blood-brain barrier (BBB) crossing AAV5 variant TruStable™ system demonstrates greatly increased scalability and consistency vs existing methods of AAV production across multiple serotypes SEATTLE, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shape Therapeutics, a leader in RNA-based gene therapy, today announced that the Company presented data demonstrating the potential of its RNAfix® platform to restore protein function and reduce pathogenic proteins implicated in multiple neurological diseases, and to deliver the therapies efficiently with novel brain-targeting AAV capsids. The Company also presented data highlighting the versatility of its TruStable™ platform to achieve high quality vectors with improved process yield and consistency, resulting in overall reduced costs. These data were shared in multiple oral and poster presentations at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) 28th Annual Meeting taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana, May 13-17, 2025. 'The preclinical data we presented at this year's ASGCT meeting further highlight our transformational genetic medicine and scalable manufacturing platforms,' said David Huss, Ph.D., CSO and acting CEO of Shape Therapeutics. 'We were particularly pleased to showcase our novel brain-penetrating capsids that represent the first demonstration of systemically delivered RNA editing in a primate brain, the highest primate neuronal targeting by a blood-brain barrier-crossing AAV variant and the highest targeting of the primate substantia nigra seen with any novel brain therapy. These data, coupled with the AAV vectors produced via our TruStable™ producer platform, underscore the high-value, low-cost potential of our gene therapy assets.' Key findings from the presentations at ASGCT include: AAV5-Based Capsid Variants: Novel AAV5-based capsids generated by Shape's platform efficiently cross the BBB of cynomolgus macaques after IV injection while showing extensive liver and DRG detargeting. Two capsids, SHP-DB1 and SHP-DB2, showed particularly strong delivery to deep brain regions, with payload expression observed in >96% of all neurons in the substantia nigra, the critical brain region in Parkinson's disease. SHP-DB1 and SHP-DB2 delivered efficient targeted RNA editing across the NHP brain from a single IV injection, with up to 88% editing observed in RNA from brain biopsies. Programmable RNA Editing in the CNS: Shape's RNAfix® platform uses guide RNAs (gRNAs) that harness the natural Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADAR) enzyme to therapeutically edit sites in patient RNA. gRNAs engineered with AI for potency and specificity enable therapeutic levels of protein modulation in multiple CNS diseases, demonstrating the broad applicability and enormous therapeutic potential of the RNAfix® platform for CNS diseases. In a mouse model of Rett syndrome, gRNAs targeting the R168X mutation in the MECP2 gene achieved broad distribution throughout the brain following IV injection, enabling 52-69% editing of the target mRNA and restoring full-length MECP2 protein in ~39% of all cells. In a mouse model of neurodegenerative disease, RNAfix gRNAs achieved >70% reduction of targeted pathogenic protein in iPSC-derived glutamatergic neurons and >50% protein knockdown in the mouse brain following a single systemic AAV dose. In a third neurological disease, RNAfix gRNAs achieved >90% protein knockdown in human neurons and >60% knockdown in mouse brain. RNAfix is designed for a 'one-and-done' therapeutic approach, supported by full maintenance of high efficiency editing in the mouse brain one year post-dosing. TruStable™ AAV Manufacturing: Shape's fully stable AAV producer cell line platform, TruStable, was shown to generate higher quantities and quality of material than a traditional transient transfection method. TruStable™ production cell line produced ~15-fold more AAV with ~3-fold higher packaging percentage than the comparator triple transfection system, resulting in ~30-fold more material generated per cell culture volume after final purification. In-vitro potency results suggest that the TruStable™ derived material is ~2-fold as potent as triple transfection when comparing the upper asymptote of the 4PL dose response curve. The TruStable™ producer cell line can now efficiently produce multiple AAV serotypes by integrating Adenoviral L4 helper factor, which broadens the applicability of the platform and support high-titer, reproducible production of diverse AAV vectors. About Shape Therapeutics ShapeTX is an AI-driven genomic medicines company focused on creating curative and transformative medicines through its programmable RNA editing technology. By focusing on three differentiated pillars of value, ShapeTX utilizes its RNAfix® technology, targeted delivery system and TruStable™ manufacturing platform to advance a strong internal pipeline of RNA therapeutics across a wide range of diseases, including ABCA4-related diseases and neurological disorders. You can find us at and on LinkedIn and X. Investor Contact:Anne Marie FieldsPrecision Media Contact:info@
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
CT man accused of killing former mother-in-law with baseball bat blamed her for failed marriage
A man accused of killing his former mother-in-law during a vicious attack with a baseball bat outside an apartment building in Trumbull on Monday allegedly told investigators that he blamed the woman for his failed marriage and the financial difficulties that followed, according to the police report. Ylli Shtopaju, 45, of Norwalk faces one count of murder in the killing of 70-year-old Lida Shape after investigators found that he followed her from the Trumbull Mall to the Ten Trumbull Apartments at 100 Oakview Dr. where she lived with his ex-wife and the former couple's children, according to the report filed by investigators with the Trumbull Police Department. Police believe Shtopaju approached Shape and a relative who was with her after the two had been dropped off by an Uber driver outside the apartments, the report said. He allegedly got their attention outside the building, but the pair turned their backs and ignored him as they walked toward the entrance, according to the report. During an interview with detectives, Shtopaju allegedly admitted to retrieving a baseball bat from the trunk of his Mercedes Benz and jogging toward Shape, the report said. He allegedly raised the bat in the air and swung it down on top of Shape's head, according to the report. Police said he then allegedly spent the next 90 seconds striking her with the bat before dropping it and walking nearby where he waited for police to arrive. Shtopaju allegedly told police Shape 'tried to kill me for all my life, so I did it today,' the report said. Police responded to the apartment building shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Monday after multiple 911 callers reported that a man was beating a woman with a bat, according to the report. Numerous officers responded and found Shape lying on her back, having been viciously beaten and gasping for air, the report said. A black baseball bat was found on the ground nearby. As police were tending to Shape, a witness from the fourth-floor balcony yelled out to police 'that's him' while pointing at Shtopaju, who was approaching officers and trying to wave them down, the report said. An officer immediately noticed that he had apparent blood droplets covering his shoes and took him into custody after he allegedly admitted to attacking Shape, police wrote. Police tending to Shape performed life-saving measures and noted that she was experiencing agonal breathing and a faint pulse that soon faded. She also had portions of the back of her skull caved in, the report said. Officers attached an automated external defibrillator to Shape, but the device gave them a 'no shock advised' message. Police administered CPR until medics arrived and discussed whether they should abandon their life-saving efforts, police wrote in the report. Shape was pronounced dead at 12:55 p.m. Investigators secured the scene, took a number of photos and interviewed numerous witnesses, the report said. They also viewed video surveillance footage from the building and spoke to Shtopaju after he agreed to an interview with detectives at the police station. Shtopaju explained to investigators that he is divorced from his ex-wife and that she lives at the apartment building along with their two children and her mother, the report said. He allegedly told police he blamed Shape for the failed marriage, for the loss of his house in Monroe and 'the fact that he currently does not have any money,' the report said. Shtopaju said he was at the mall ordering food from the food court for when his children got out of school when he noticed Shape and a relative who lives out of state, according to the report. Shtopaju claimed that he made eye contact with Shape but they did not say anything to one another, the report said. Shtopaju allegedly admitted to detectives that he followed Shape and her relative as they left the mall and got into a vehicle that picked them up and brought them to the apartment building, the report said. He allegedly said he retrieved the bat when she tried walking away from him after trying to confront her, according to the report. Shtopaju allegedly told police that as he struck Shape with the bat he told her she 'has killed him his whole life' and that he 'has killed her once,' the report said. Video surveillance showed that Shape was knocked to the ground after the first hit from the bat, the report said. The relative who was with her watched for a few seconds before running to safety. Shtopaju allegedly could be seen in the footage striking Shape a number of times 'using a combination of overhead, swinging down strikes' along with several sideways 'golf club' style swings, the report said. Shtopaju was held in custody overnight on $3 million bond and was arraigned on Tuesday in Bridgeport Superior Court. Court records show he did not immediately post his bail, which a judge did not change during his arraignment. Shtopaju did not enter a plea during the hearing and is being represented by a public defender, records show. He is due back in court on Friday.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
LICHFL cuts home loan interest rates for both old and new home loans; new home loan interest rate starts from 8%
Life Insurance Corporation of India 's housing finance company ( LICHFL ) has reduced its benchmark for home loan lending rate by 25 basis points (0.25%). In a press release LIC HFL said that this rate reduction will benefit both existing and new home loan borrowers from April 28, 2025. This rate cut in the home loan's benchmark comes after the Reserve Bank of India on April 9, 2025, reduced the repo rate by 0.25%. The interest rate for home loans through LIC HFL now starts from 8% #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India stares at a 'water bomb' threat as it freezes Indus Treaty India readies short, mid & long-term Indus River plans Shehbaz Sharif calls India's stand "worn-out narrative" Read below to know the details: LICHFL home loan interest rate reduced It's noteworthy that the home loan's interest amount has become more affordable due to this rate cut, but the rate cut happened with the benchmark for these loans and not the loan's interest rate in itself. This benchmark – LIC Housing Prime Lending Rate (LHPLR), serves as the reference rate for determining the interest rates on all LIC HFL loans. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Wife won't let go of dog, husband finds out why and calls police - watch! Happy in Shape Undo 'A 25-basis points reduction in its LIC Housing Prime Lending Rate (LHPLR), following the recent policy rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India. This reduction will benefit both existing and new borrowers by making home loans more affordable. The revised interest rates will now start from 8% and will come into effect from 28th April 2025. The LHPLR serves as the benchmark rate for determining the interest rates on all LIC HFL loans,' as per the press release dated April 25, 2025. Tribhuwan Adhikari, MD & CEO of LIC HFL said, 'The interest rate cuts are in line with the RBI's decisions and current market scenario. We believe this move will boost consumer sentiments and stimulate housing demand, especially among the affordable homebuyers .' Live Events For which LIC HFL customers will this home loan rate reduction create an impact? Broadly speaking home loans can be classified into two categories: fixed rate home loans and floating rate home loans . This rate reduction will benefit floating rate home loans. The reason for this is that under the floating rate of home loans, the interest component keeps on changing as per the market scenario. This type of floating interest rate home loan depends on the benchmark rate, so whenever the benchmark rate changes, the interest rate gets revised. According to ICICI Bank website: 'As compared to a Fixed Interest Rate, Floating Interest Rates are comparatively cheaper. Fixed Interest Rates are 1% - 2.5% higher than Floating Interest Rates. The increase and decrease in the Floating Interest Rate is temporary, as it varies as per the market trends, movement of the benchmark rates and as determined by the bank. Home Loans and other loans are now linked to the benchmark Repo rate. The bank decides the margin, however the changes in your effective rate would depend on how the Repo rate changes.' Can you make EMI payments for LIC HFL home loans online? According to the LIC HFL website, If you are a registered customer portal then online payment is available in case you have missed the EMI due date. The procedure for same is as given below: Login with user id and password on customer portal. Click on Pay Online. Select Loan Account and click on 'Get Dues'. The amount due as on date will be shown for the selected loan account. Click on Pay. Select the mode of communication. Select whether message to be sent on registered mobile or email id. If No, mention alternate mobile / email id to receive the message. Read the terms and conditions and click on I accept all terms and conditions of LICHFL. You will be redirected to the Payment Gateway site. After making payment through Net Banking payment, payment summary will be shown. Click on 'Download Receipt' to download payment acknowledgement receipt. Actual receipt will be mailed to you on your registered email id.
The Sun
26-04-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Do ginger shots really do anything? I asked 2 experts and took them every day for a month to find out
WHILE immunity boosting isn't new, particularly for those with young kids, it's likely been on our minds a lot more since the pandemic. There's been a range of products released over the years, from probiotic yogurt drinks to kombucha, and all manner of vitamins and supplements. 10 But one of the most accessible - and perhaps appealing - is ginger shots. Ginger has long been renowned for its wellness benefits, helping with things like nausea and vomiting. It is also said to aid weight loss, as well as lower blood pressure, ease joint pain, treat indigestion, relieve period cramps, protect against Alzheimer's and potentially even help us live longer. Many of us - including celebs like Anna Kendrick, Selena Gomez and Eva Longoria - are now shotting it like tequila at our kitchen tables. Pitch Perfect star Anna told Shape: 'I am powered by ginger. I keep wellness shots of ginger, lemon and cayenne pepper in my fridge. 'If I'm travelling and I can't have ginger, I feel sick. I'm positive it's the only thing keeping me alive.' Meanwhile, singer Selena said the shots 'kill all the bad things' inside her, and Desperate Housewives actress Eva revealed she loves her homemade version, which also contains lemon, lime, orange, honey, turmeric and cayenne pepper. But do ginger shots really do anything? Registered dietitian and author of How Not to Eat Ultra-Processed Nichola Ludlam-Raine tells Sun Health: 'Ginger has been shown to aid digestion and may help reduce nausea and inflammation. 'It can also contribute to heart health and support blood sugar regulation when consumed as part of a healthy, varied diet.' Seven hacks to help you live longer Ginger didn't hit the market in its concentrated shot form until the early 2010s, when companies like Press London and Plenish began incorporating ginger shots into their product lines. But Nichola says there may be a setback to consuming ginger in this way. 'Ginger shots should not be relied upon as a magic bullet for health as the amount of ginger they actually contain will vary,' she says. 'They also are often combined with fruit juice, which should be limited to 150ml a day to control free-sugar intake.' She prefers to advise patients to add ground ginger to yoghurt or porridge. But if you're still interested in giving them a try, here is everything you need to know… My test DESPITE the weather warming up (a bit anyway), trains, offices and supermarkets are still full of people coughing and spluttering. Norovirus rates in the UK have also skyrocketed, and after getting it twice in the space of four months, I knew I needed a change. So I started looking into immunity boosting hacks. I'd tried probiotic yoghurt drinks but as someone who was also trying to cut down on dairy, I needed another option. Of course, I knew all about the existence ginger shots - they've been on the supermarket shelves for years - but I'd never put the time and effort into actually taking them regularly. I had also heard rumours that drinking ginger first thing in the morning would damage the enamel on my teeth, so I was a little apprehensive. That being said, with friends and colleagues repeatedly falling ill, I decided it was worth it if it would get me back on my feet, and decided I'd test ginger shots for a few weeks. Is it worth buying ginger shots? I WANTED to try shop-bought ginger shots first as there are so many new products out there. I picked up the MOJU Fresh Root Ginger Shots and was lucky enough to find them on offer. Usually you're looking at £6 or more for a bottle. A bottle of the classic MOJU contains apple, ginger root (20 per cent), lemon, acerola cherry powder, antioxidant: ascorbic acid. While incredibly convenient to just pick up a bottle, you aren't in control of everything that's added in! Shop-bought first impressions IT tastes great — that was my immediate thought when I had my first Monday morning MOJU shot. Not too spicy, and surprisingly sweet considering it's positioned as a health food option. It was a nice way to start the day and I might say a good way to wake yourself up first thing. I'd heard ginger shots are most beneficial if you have them in the morning before anything else, but is it necessarily true that you need to knock them back in the AM? If you enjoy them and they make you feel good, they can be a great addition to your routine, but they're not an essential health fix on their own Nichola Ludlam-RaineDietitian Nichola says: 'There's no definitive evidence that taking a ginger shot first thing in the morning enhances its benefits, but some people prefer it on an empty stomach to aid digestion. 'Pairing ginger with turmeric, which contains curcumin, may offer additional anti-inflammatory effects — especially when consumed with black pepper to enhance absorption. 'However, for those with acid reflux or a sensitive stomach, concentrated ginger shots may cause irritation. 'In these cases, consuming ginger in food or as a tea may be a gentler alternative.' I didn't get a sensitive stomach consuming ginger every morning and really, the most important thing for me, I didn't get ill at all during the time I had these — not even a sniffly nose! So, maybe they were doing something. How to make your own ginger shots AFTER one week testing the shop-bought shots, and seeing some noticeable changes, though nothing major, I decided to make my own to see if that would make a bigger difference. There are thousands of different ginger shot recipes online so I used these as inspiration when coming up with my own. I used fresh ginger root (£5.50 per kg), turmeric root (£15 per kg) and Tesco 's Lemon, Ginger and Apple Juice (£2 for 1litre). Normally you'd use classic apple juice, but as I wanted to use lemon in my shots anyway, this seemed like a happy medium. 10 A lot of the recipes I'd seen online used juicers but unfortunately as someone who isn't blessed with a Ninja Cold Press Juicer, I had to do it the old fashioned way. However, this was surprisingly easy - you just need a regular blender and a sieve. Blend ginger root, turmeric root and a fair splash of the juice and you'll get a kind of paste. From here, just sieve this into a jug or jar. You may be surprised by how little juice this makes but I topped mine up with the shop-bought juice and there was plenty. Homemade f irst impressions THESE hit a lot harder in terms of spice — it could be the fresh ginger or the turmeric but the flavour was a lot stronger. And also notably sweet. If I was going to make my own ginger shots again, I'd recommend using a low or no-sugar juice or an alternative like coconut water so it would be less sweet. Though that could push up the cost! Shop-bought vs homemade ginger shots OVERALL it was close, but the freshness and quality of ingredients was always going to be better in something you make yourself from scratch. However, I found the pre-made MOJU shots improved my immune system just as well, so if you're looking for convenience, they're still a fantastic option. Are ginger shots bad for your teeth? AFTER taking ginger shots every day for several weeks, I hadn't noticed any difference in the sensitivity or colour of my teeth. But often these things build up over time - so will ginger shots damage my gnashers? Dr Rizwan Mahmood, dentist at Ruh Dental, says: 'Not necessarily, but they can if they contain acidic ingredients like lemon juice, which most of them do. 'Acidic drinks can wear down enamel over time, making your teeth more sensitive and prone to cavities. 'So, if your ginger shot is really citrusy it might be worth drinking it through a straw to minimise contact with your teeth. 'If you already struggle with sensitive teeth, it's a good idea to check in with your dentist to see if your enamel needs some extra protection. 'It's worth noting that a lot of ginger shots also include turmeric, which stains everything, including teeth! 'This shouldn't be an issue in moderation, but regular consumption could lead to gradual discolouration over time.' The health benefits of ginger YOU can buy it fresh, dried, powdered or as an oil or juice, and it's found in everything from curries to smoothies. But is ginger really as good for you as people say it is? Research by the Catholic University of San Antonio de Murcia found ginger to have powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. A study by Seoul National University found it to be effective against nausea, including pregnancy-related morning sickness. Taking a ginger supplement significantly reduced body weight and waist-to-hip ratio in overweight or obese people in a review published in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. Ginger could also reduce pain and disability in patients with osteoarthritis, according to a review in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. A study by Kashan University of Medical Sciences found a significant reduction in fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes after taking ginger supplements. Researchers at Policlinico di Monza in Milan discovered that consuming ginger before eating a main meal significantly improved symptoms of indigestion. A study published in the Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology suggested ginger could be as effective as ibuprofen in relieving menstrual pain. A review of 26 trials by Tabriz University of Medical Sciences found ginger lowered levels of bad cholesterol linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Certain compounds in ginger may help prevent degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, according to research published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition. Ginger's antimicrobial properties could also make it useful for fighting bacterial and fungal infections, scientists at Busitema University say. I also spoke to him about the impact of having an acidic drink first thing in the morning and whether it could damage your teeth. 'It's not the worst thing, but it's not ideal either,' he says. 'Your enamel is a bit more vulnerable in the morning, and if you're having something acidic, it can soften it temporarily.' He went on to explain that brushing immediately afterwards could actually do more harm than good. 'It's best to rinse your mouth with water and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing.' he adds. Does taking ginger shots every day boost your immune system? SO the question we all want to know - will ginger shots actually keep us well? The answer is, maybe. 'Ginger contains beneficial compounds such as gingerol, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties,' Nichola says. 'While these properties can support overall health, there is currently limited strong evidence to suggest that ginger shots alone significantly improve the immune system or prevent illness.' She adds: 'While ginger shots can be a convenient way to include ginger in your diet, they should not replace a balanced diet or healthy lifestyle. 'If you enjoy them and they make you feel good, they can be a great addition to your routine, but they're not an essential health fix on their own. 'As with any concentrated food or supplement, moderation is key!' Personally, I felt a measurable but marginal improvement within my health and overall vitality while taking ginger shots. And it's hard to say if I was feeling the effects of ginger shots or just finally feeling better after several bouts of illness. Either way, I think that taking ginger shots can be a fun, and tasty way to begin your day. 10
