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Increased blood, fat and cholesterol levels are among the main risk factors for the onset of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, besides high blood pressure drugs, statins are one of the most commonly prescribed medications worldwide. Statins inhibit the body's cholesterol synthesis and can thus help to reduce blood cholesterol levels. However, their broad usage is often controversial and widely discussed, with potential alternatives currently being researched. Presently, a focus of scientific interest is in the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), which is considerably involved in the regulation of cholesterol metabolism. The PCSK9 binds to the LDL receptor on the liver…
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Being overweight or obese can be an important risk factor for the occurrence of metabolic, heart and circulatory illnesses. Originally considered pure and passive energy storage, fat tissue has since come to be seen as the biggest endocrine organ of the body. Its effect on metabolism and the risk of illness is not only just concerned with the quantity, but also with the quality of the fat deposits. In contrast to subcutaneous fat, the visceral or abdominal fat in the body’s interior is an independent risk factor for strokes, heart attacks and type 2 diabetes. The cause of this is in the specific properties of the visceral fat cells. These differ, not just in their position from the…
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The ketogenic diet is currently one of the most popular nutrition trends. Many people believe it will lead to a fast weight loss, reduction of fat without loss of muscle, increased performance and even a health-promoting and cancer-preventative effect. But what does this form of diet entail? It is based on the redistribution of nutrients taken into the body. While diet companies predominantly recommend carbohydrates, protein and only a small amount of fat for your daily intake, the ketogenic diet follows a completely opposite approach. According to the ketogenic diet, fats should make up the predominant proportion of the daily calorie intake. The proportion of proteins is calculated…
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The human body is becoming increasingly characterized by extreme portrayal these days. Particularly the media utilizes very thin or very large bodies, and the internet takes this to even more extremes with strongly visually oriented social networks. In some cases, such conflicting body images spread rapidly and reach a large number of users, specifically teenagers and young adults. One such trend, which showcases these extremes, is the so-called "thigh gap", which describes a visible gap between the thighs, even when the knees touch. This trend soon gave rise to a countermovement, the "Mermaid Gap" – here, the thighs are supposed to touch explicitly, "like a mermaid’s".
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Today's use of the word "binge" is broadly applied to any excessive behavior. While terms such as binge-watching are often meant ironically, binge-eating describes an obvious eating disorder. For the first time, Binge Eating Disorder (BES) is listed as a separate diagnosis in the current fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), for the classification of mental disorders.
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Arterial hypertension is one of the most common internal diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 35% and 40% of all people worldwide are affected. While there are many different underlying causes for the development of hypertension, the most common form is the idiopathic form, whose cause is still unknown. Apart from an unhealthy lifestyle, the main risk factor is age.
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For a while now, avoiding food that contains gluten has become one of the most popular nutritional trends and is also of great interest to the media. Gluten-free alternatives in supermarkets and restaurants are part of everyday life. Just last year, global sales of gluten-free products rose by 12.6% and doubled their total revenue since 2011. The gluten-free diet is especially popular in the US. According to surveys, a large part of the US population believes that a gluten-free diet is beneficial to their health and has a positive effect on their physical and mental constitution.
