Health

We have been asking if the eggs are good or bad for our health. The tests are very forceful

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It is a debate that we have surely heard countless times, that of how good or bad that eggs result for our health. It is a setback, the evidence that eggs are “bad” is limited and has been refuted by various studies, but still the issue remains the subject of new studies. Studies that continue to insist on the usual consumption of eggs does not represent a risk additional. Another study on the list. A recent study of mortality associated with egg consumption has not observed indications of an increase in mortality associated with egg consumption. Moreover, the study found an inverse relationship between the regular consumption of this food and the risk of deaths linked to cardiovascular diseases. The study He followed up of 8,756 over 70 years of age, which gave information about their diets. Based on this information, the team separated the participants in three groups: who did not consume eggs or did it shortly, those who consumed eggs between one and six times a day, and those who consumed eggs daily. Verdict. The study results indicated that people in the moderate consumption group had a risk of mortality by 15% lower than those of the low consumption group, controlling other factors. They also observed a 29% reduction associated with specific mortality due to heart disease. Of egg aspirin. The study was framed in the ASPREE project (Aspirin in rear Events in the Elderly), curiously, a project dedicated to the study of the effects of aspirin in preventive medicine. The details of the study have been published In an article In the magazine Nutrients. But they didn’t have cholesterol? “Eggs are a dense food in nutrients, they are a rich source of protein and a good source of nutrients, such as B vitamins, folate, non -saturated fatty acids, fat -solub vitamins (E, D, a, and k), hill, and numerous minerals and trace elements,” explained in a press release Holly Wild, co -author of the study. However, the eggs won a bad reputation due to their cholesterol content. Each egg has about 275 milligrams of cholesterol, which would represent almost the entire recommended amount of cholesterol, they explain In an article for The conversation Lauren Ball and Karly Bartrim, experts from the University of Queensland, in Australia. The trick is in absorption, Ball and Bartrim point out. And it is that the fact that we consummate a food with high cholesterol content does not mean that our body will absorb that cholesterol and make it end in the bloodstream, where it can imply a risk. This is the advance. The debate on the hypothetical damage that eggs may be a health risk has been perpetuated for years has often been used to discredit advances made in the field of nutrition. And it is true that the science that studies nutrients and their effects on our body is complex: the varied of the human diet and the immense complexity of our body are two factors that make extremely difficult to measure the effects of some foods on our health. It is not surprising Therefore we can occasionally run into this type of debates. The contradictory results are not alien to any field of science: there are many reasons why a study can yield erroneous results, such as methodological failures, calculation errors or even by mere statistical chance. That is why relationships must be studied several occasions, by different teams and following a variety of methods, this is how failures and erroneous relationships have been detected on several occasions. It is how the method itself should work. In Xataka | White eggs have disappeared from our supermarkets: the story of how brown was commercially imposed Image | Morgane Perraud

We are increasingly clear that our microbiome is key to our health. Our protein sources can also alter it

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Little by little We started realizing Of the importance of our microbiota, especially as regards the microorganisms that inhabit our digestive system, our gastrointestinal microbioma. Aspects of our health that in principle They would not seem connected To what happens in our intestines seem to have some kind of correlation with that flora of fungi and bacteria that coexists inside us. Different proteins, different microbiome. A recent study has observed That the food source of protein can alter the composition and structure of our intestinal microbiome, that is, of the set of microorganisms that inhabits our digestive system. The experiment, conducted with mice, observed important variations in the microbiota associated with changes in the diet. “The composition of gastric microbiome changed significantly every time we change the protein source,” pointed in a press release Alfredo Blakeley-Ruiz, co-author of the study. “Protein sources with the greatest functional effects were integral rice, yeast and egg whites.” A variety of sources. Proteins are a key nutrient that gives us essential amino acids with which our body is able to synthesize its own proteins. Foods of animal origin such as meats, fish or eggs are usually seen as the main source of amino acids, but they are not the only one. The existence of alternatives implies the possibility of diverse effects on our health and well -being. Through, for example, of the microbiome. Metabolizing amino acids. The team resorted to its study to the use of high -resolution mass spectrometry and the combination of metagenomic and metaproteinomic. Everything to find how the intestinal microbiome of mice whose diet was altered so that each week they received their single source proteins that was changed after seven days .. They observed that some of these sources were associated with important changes. These changes, Explain the teamthey manifested in how the mice metabolized the amino acids, but also in the way in which their digestive system degraded complex sugars, something that was not so intuitive. Diets such as those based on the integral rice and the clearing of the eggs, continue to explain the equipment, increased the degradation of the amino acids, which would imply that the microorganisms of the digestive system of the mice were breaking the proteins to obtain their own amino acids. The details of the study were published recently In an article in The Isme Journal. An environment (too much?) Controlled. The team responsible for the study admitted That there are some limitations to consider, and one of them is the complexity of the diet. In a laboratory environment, the team altered the diet of the mice radically (causing them to have a single source of protein). Beyond the fact that studies with animal models are not always transposed identically in humans, it is expected that forceful changes in the diet of these animals entail important changes in the structure of their microbiome. A more varied diet, with diverse sources of proteins, would logically imply more dim effects. In Xataka | We have found some supplements capable of improving memory in the elderly: prebiot promising Image | MART PRODUCTION

Loneliness is already a matter of public health. We have more and more evidence that animals help us to placate it

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In recent years, we have seen how loneliness has become a problem with numerous ramifications, including toilets. The “male solitude epidemic” is one of the faces that has given more to talk, but loneliness also affects other sectors of the population. And small details can help, if not to solve it, perhaps at least to relieve it. Pets. Domestic animals They can help To placate the feelings of loneliness, as a new study has observed. Interestingly, the study key is not in the company that they could offer, in themselves, these animals, but in their ability to boost and facilitate social interactions between people. The work was done in Australia and focused on two groups notoriously susceptible to this problem: older people and international students. The team found that animals could be useful to facilitate the interactions between these two groups, improving the well -being and health of both. “We find that older adults and international students experienced a significant decrease in feelings of loneliness and a significant increase in their health. The presence of living pets in particular helped break the ice and facilitated conversations between participants,” stood out in a press release Em Bould, co -author of the study. The cost of a silent epidemic. The loneliness It can impact us In different ways, not only in our well -being, but also in our physical and mental health. Loneliness can accelerate our cognitive deterioration and has also been linked to lower life expectancy. Pilot project. The study was based on a pilot project in which 30 elderly people participated in different residences of the Australian state of Victoria, as well as 11 international students. For 18 weeks, participants held periodic meetings, of one hour every week, in which various leisure activities linked to animals were carried out. There were also animals, and robotic versions of these. Some of the participants in the pilot project (six older people and 10 students) also participated in the evaluation of the program and subsequent study. These participants completed several surveys and also participated in a semi -structured survey. Measuring loneliness. Measuring loneliness is not simple, but there are some tools dedicated to this, such as the scale of the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), the one used in this analysis. The team also evaluated the health status of the participants, through an instrument of 5 dimensions-Europe. The evaluation was positive in both dimensions. The team responsible for this observed both a decrease in the sunny index and an ascent in the health index. The details of the study were published in an article in the magazine Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. Fight loneliness. The fact that in an era that stands out for advances in communication technologies La Soledad has acquired such dimensions is a sad irony. However, the important weight that loneliness can mean about our State forces us to take the problem very seriously. In Xataka | A good way to end loneliness in cities: plant more trees Image | / Alec Favale

The lack of protein represents a risk to our health. These are the key symptoms to identify it

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We live perhaps in him historical context of greater food abundance. It is difficult to find an era in which we have had a greater variety of food at our disposal. This is especially true for meat and fish, two of the main sources of protein. In general, today We consume more proteins than we needbut the general does not always apply and The lack of protein It can also occur in some people, for example cases of certain diets or between people suffering from certain autoimmune diseases. That is why we can ask ourselves, how can we know if we are not consuming enough proteins? Proteins are one of the three macronutrients considered basic for the proper functioning of our body, the other two fats or lipids, and carbohydrates. We associate these nutrients to meatfish, milk products, but are present in one way or another (in their constituent blocks, for example) in a multitude of foods such as legumes or soy. Proteins, although we put them in the same group are not a homogeneous group of compounds: our body has thousands of protein types. Of course, all of them are composed of a series of amino acids chained 20 of these “blocks” are enough to form this myriad of proteins in our body. Our body is able to synthesize 11 of These amino acids But for the other nine, called essential amino acidswe must obtain them from food. For this we need proteins: our digestive system breaks them down in amino acids so that our body can rebuild them according to their need. We call “Complete proteins“To foods containing all essential amino acids. A list of food with complete proteins would include meats such as beef or chicken, fish, eggs, dairy, soy or quinoa. If our body does not consume enough proteins or other amino acid sources, we can fall into the lack of any of these nine essential amino acids, so that our body can lose the ability to generate its own proteins which results in problems such as the Hypooproteinemiathe lack of protein in the blood. Symptoms Before the lack of proteins becomes a problem, we can pay attention to some symptoms that alert us to lack. Health experts from the University of California in Los Angeles They prepared a time ago a list With six indications that can help us detect the lack of protein. In the article they explain that fragility in hair and nails is sometimes the first sign of a protein deficiency. Another sign is in the feeling of weakness and hunger. Hunger usually indicates the lack of food, sometimes it can also indicate a more concrete nutritional lack. A third indication is in our immune system. The lack of protein can limit our body’s ability to defend against external threats so we can find ourselves more sickly due to this lack. The lack of protein can also manifest in changes in humor or difficulties in thinking. This is due to fluctuations in blood sugar levels and the effect of proteins in brain neurotransmitters responsible for regulating our mood. The fifth indication indicated by these experts is muscle weakness. Proteins are indispensable to build and repair muscle mass, without it we can end up losing it. The last of these symptoms is in the Appearance of fractures by stress in the bones. The integrity of these also depends on this type of compounds. Proteins are fundamental to our body and the difficulty in creating new molecules can cause us problems of very diverse type. As usual in nutrition, excess can also be linked to some problems. Some estimates calculate that excessive protein consumption may appear if we take more than two grams daily per kg of body mass. A varied and healthy diet is key to avoiding problems both by excess as defaultin regards to proteins and with regard to any other nutrient. This is especially important for those who, by their own or for health, must eliminate some usual piece of their menu. No food is essential but there are nutrients that they are. In Xataka | Proteic fever has invaded supermarkets. The problem is how they suggest that we take proteins Image | Shayda Torabi

We have compared the effects of the Mediterranean diet with those of the so -called “planetary health diet”. There are surprises

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Something everyday as eating can have a huge impact on our health, but you can also put a small grain of sand in environmental protection. The problem in these cases is that it is not always easy to demonstrate reliably the impacts of our diet on our health and the environment. Some scientists have tried. As beneficial as the Mediterranean diet. A group of researchers He has been studyingface to face, the health and environmental effects of two diets: the traditional and well -known Mediterranean diet, and the least known planetary health diet. According to this analysis, adhesion to both diets presents similar benefits for both our health and our environment. Planetary health diet. The planetary health diet, or PHD for its acronym in English is a diet Proposal in 2019 By a group of experts from the Eat-Lancet commission, associated with the medical magazine The Lancet. It is a diet that prepares the consumption of plant foods and limits the consumption of meats and dairy products (although it does not eliminate them as in vegetarian and vegan diets). “In 2019, the planetary health diet (PHD) was developed to optimize global dietary quality at the same time that the impacts of food production within sustainable borders were maintained,” indicated in a press release Mercedes Sotos Prieto, researcher at the Autonomous University of Madrid and co -author of the study. “However, evidence of how PHD is compared to the Mediterranean diet (…). We have evaluated the effects of both diets on mortality for any cause and the environmental impact on a large (sample) representative of the Spanish population.” 11,488 participants. The study was carried out from compiled data in the study of nutrition and cardiovascular risk in Spain (Enrica). The data of this cohort allowed to track 11,488 participants over 14.4 years. To analyze the adhesion to each of the diets two indexes were used, the PHD Index and Medas Score. These measured the consumption of certain foods associated with each of the diets, the planetary health diet and the Mediterranean diet, respectively. The environmental impact of these forms of food consumption was carried out through the Sharp-ID tool (Sharp-Indicors Database), which allows estimating greenhouse gas emissions based on land uses. Health impacts were measured through mortality, through the National Death Index. The analysis also included information about other variables to adjust the results. Less mortality. The study results They indicated a positive effect of both diets about health. In the case of the PHD, the study showed a decrease of approximately 22% in the risk of death during the period studied when comparing the group with greater adhesion to this diet with respect to the group with less adhesion. In the case of the Mediterranean diet, the comparison between the mortalities of the groups with the greatest and lesser adhesion was approximately 21%. A very similar positive effect, so much that the difference is statistically irrelevant. More than health. The second point of interest is that of the environmental impact of diets, calculated in this case based on emissions that are estimated to the different options. In the case of the PHD diet, the estimate calculates emissions equivalent to 4.15 kg of CO₂ a day, with a soil use estimated at 5.54 m² a day. The Mediterranean diet, on the other hand, is calculated emissions equivalent to 4.36 kg of CO₂ per day, with a land use estimated at 5.43 m² a day. Results, again, very similar. The details of the study have not yet been published in a scientific journal, but were presented at the beginning of the month at the Congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). An open debate. The PHD diet is a relatively recent formula, proposed less than a decade ago. In his presentation it was received with a certain degree of skepticismsomething logical if we take into account the difficulties facing science when analyzing something as complex as nutrition and the effects of food on our body and our health. That is why studies are required to test the Initial results. Experiments such as this incline the balance in favor of this type of diets but when addressing this type of issues all additional information can be useful. In Xataka | Coffee has no cholesterol but does raise its levels. And someone has discovered the perfect elaboration to limit it Image | Louis Hansel

China’s robots represent an existential threat to the US, according to semi -health experts

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“This is a call to action for the US and West. We are on the threshold of a non -linear transformation of The industrial societybut the basis on which US is intense is unstable. Automation and robotics They are going through a revolution which will allow the total automation of all strategic and manufacturing industries. These Smart robotic systems They will be the first industrial piece that will not be complementary, but completely additive: work 24/7 with a performance higher than any human being (…) “. “Currently the only country positioned to capture this level of automation is China, and, if it achieves it without the US to follow the same path, the expansion of production will be exclusive to China, which will represent an existential threat to the US when it is overcome in all its abilities.” This text is signed by Dylan Patel, Reyk Knuhttsen, Niko Ciminelli, Jeremie Eliahou Ontiveros, Joe Ryu and Robert Ghilduta, six experts from SEMIANALYSIS. This American consultant specializes in the analysis of the semiconductor industries and the artificial intelligence (AI), and their studies are usually reasonably accurate. China’s technological and scientific development rhythm is overwhelming The lines of the semi -toalysis report that I just mentioned contain a lot of interesting information, but without a doubt the most forceful reflection of how many they put on the table is none other than the great capacity that China has in the technological, scientific, and, of course, economic. It is evident that they all go hand in hand, but this attention call will hardly take off the US administrations and Western countries. We can be sure that their slow reflexes is not caused by ignorance. China has the necessary capacity and resources to dispute its world leadership position to the US The US government led by Joe Biden openly recognized the document that collects its National Security Strategy October 2022 that China has the necessary capacity and resources To dispute the US Its world leadership position. The social, economic, military and technological development that the country led by Xi Jinping has experienced during the last two decades supports this conclusion. The following literal extract of this document reflects very clearly why the US government considers China a threat: “The Popular Republic of China (RPC) is the only competitor that has both the intention of remodeling international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military and technological capacity to do so. Beijing has the ambition to create a wide sphere of influence in the regions of the Indian and the Pacific, as well as to become the leading world power.” These lines perfectly condense the background history that has triggered The international situation in which we are. Anyway, as we have just seen, semi -health experts emphasize the development of robotics and automation technologies in China. In their text they do not speak of the possibility that the country of Xi Jinping use Robots for military applications; What they maintain is that this technology represents an existential threat to the US Due to its ability to radically transform the industrial model of which not only the country currently led by Donald Trump, but also Japan, South Korea, Taiwan or a good part of European countries, among other nations. At the current situation, staying behind in strategic field like this is not an option. Image | Generated by Xataka with Dall-e More information | SEMIANALYSIS In Xataka | Chinese scientists claim to have created something groundbreaking: the fastest and most efficient transistor that exists

Some researchers have analyzed the impact of sugary drinks on world health. They have taken their hands to the head

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The sugary soft drinks conquered the world a few years ago. Thanks to its flavor and Marketing strategiesthe soft drinks became the very image of globalization. Little by little we began to be more aware of the health hazards that the excessive consumption of these drinks carried, so much that, even in some European countries it was created THE REFRESCO TAX. With the, The consumption of free sugars was reduced In certain cases. But a new one study It reveals that its intake is still very high in many countries. So much that there is an alarming link between the usual consumption of these drinks and millions of new cases of Type 2 diabetes every year. Sugary pandemic. The trigger has been a study by the University of Tufts, in the United States. Reviewing the drinking data of the global dietary database, a database with more than 450 surveys with information on the consumption of sugary drinks and a sample of 2.9 million people belonging to 184 countries, they ran into an elongent figures . Approximately, and according to this study, sugary drinks would be related to 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular diseases and 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes. Every year and worldwide, something surprising if we take into account The normalized and integrated that these drinks are in all societies. The reasons. It is not a novelty that sugary drinks are related to type 2 diabetes, obesity and other disorders, but the reason is that they are foods that are digested quickly, causing very pronounced blood glucose spikes without providing essential nutrients. They are empty calories like those that a beer can have, but with a much larger amount of sugars. This absorption process, repeatedly, contributes to the weight gain already most important: insulin resistance that carries metabolic problems related to the aforementioned diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. Many cases, but … What does it mean? According to the study, 80,000 deaths per year for type 2 and 258,000 diabetes due to cardiovascular diseases related to soft drinks. Latin America and Africa. In countries that have fought in recent years to promote healthier diets and lifestyles, as well as the taxes we mentioned a few lines, that sugar consumption has decreased, but it is not something that happens throughout the world. In fact, in the study, researchers have focused on two territories: Latin America and Africa. According to these data, in Mexico the usual consumption of these drinks with almost a third of the new cases of diabetes is associated. In Colombia, the percentage rises to almost half. And in South Africa, about 28% of new cases of diabetes and 15% of new cases of cardiovascular episodes are related to these drinks. The explanation they have found is simple: in countries and communities with lower average income, little access to information and more limited preventive medical care, cases are triggered. Not all. Now, what drinks are we talking about? The study focused on the data of the sugary drinks with added sugars and, at least 50 kilocalories per 240 milliliters of product. It is something that includes soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit juices with added sugar, punch and even water with flavors to which sugar is added. Outside the focus is milk (which also has sugar), 100% natural juices without additives and without calorie products, being these sweetened drinks without added sugars. Of course, these drinks may be in the spotlight of subsequent studies, since researchers point out that, although they do not have added and not naturally present sugars, excessive consumption can also have negative health effects. Solutions. Laura Lara-Castor is the main author of the study and Comment that “urgent and evidence -based interventions are needed to curb the consumption of sugary drinks worldwide before more lives are shortened by their effects.” Dariush Mozaffarian is another of the authors, who believes that, above all, much more interest in Latin American and Africa countries should be put. Mozaffaian sees this as a real epidemic and considers that, “as a species, we need to address the problem of sugary drinks.” Now, as with almost everything, the study emphasizes the high and constant consumption of this type of drinks, since under normal conditions, a sporadic soda (without being healthy), is a whim that we can afford. In the end, the study does not want to focus on individual responsibility, but in a collective that involves governments and health systems. And, perhaps, at the most complex: The industry that creates that type of drinks. Image | Xataka In Xataka | There was a time when Coca-Cola had ‘cocaine’. That no longer has it is due to something surprising: racism

They are bad for mint performance and health, but prohibit them in school does not work

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In recent years, the great educational issue of half the world has been exactly the same: what to do with mobile phones at school. To such an extent the controversy that As Laura Cano says“The digitalization of minors is polarizing families inside and outside the classroom.” And worst of all, we have no data that allows us to know if either of the two options make more sense than the other. Until now we thought it was because the studies were biased, now we just discovered that it is for something else. The greatest global study to date. 1227 students from 30 schools in England that They have been monitoring For a year from the University of Birmingham. Not only have they obtained their records for the use of social networks, but a battery of mental health results, well -being, sleep quality and physical activity. Among those students were some that were in centers that had prohibited the use of smartphones during the school day and others that did not. What have you found out? The interesting thing is that Researchers have discovered that there are no differences between the two groups of students. Neither in mental well -being, nor in emotional disorders, nor in sedentary lifestyle, nor rest levels. There were neither substantial differences in academic achievements or in negative behavior. It is true that telephone prohibitions led to a slight decrease in the use of telephones (about 40 minutes) and social networks (about 30 minutes), but the impact is too epqueño to be significant. So no matter how time adolescents spend with the mobile? Not quite. The study He has found that there is “a link between spending more time for use and worse results in all things studied.” What happens is that the prohibition in schools does not have enough impact on the lives of young people to be decisive. That is to say, As Professor Miranda Pallan explainsfrom the University of Birmingham, research shows that “addressing the general use of the phone should be a priority to improve health and well -being among adolescents”, but “school policies are not the miraculous solution to prevent harmful effects” . In fact, we can be quite sure that “the restrictive policies on the recreational use of phones in schools do not lead to better results among students.” And what do we do? This seems to reinforce the ideas that some experts have been defending for years. Jose César Perales, Professor of Psychology of the UGR, denounced last year that “a cosmetic measure (prohibitions) is taken, while those that could contribute to improve the mental health of our teenagers continue in a drawer.” We run the risk, these experts come to tell us, to divert the meager resources of the system towards measures with little return. “What the evidence really says is that raising”, Perales said “It admits enormous variability and that, once the material and affective needs are covered, almost all the impacts of the concrete form of parenting are quite small.” The same is time to rethink how we are distributing resources. Image | Tim Reckmann In Xataka | Alone and connected, the paradox of loneliness at the time of the thousand “friends” in networks

Eucalyptus Tea Benefits: Know your Properties for Respiratory Health

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Eucalyptus is a Medicinal plant Originally from Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania that has spread throughout several parts of the world. Its uses are varied, since not only the wood is used, butThe leaves is used in the pharmaceutical, perfumery industry and as a home remedy to eliminate mucus in the throat and discomforts associated with the airways. A specialized site investigation Wiley Online It reveals that eucalyptus has anti -inflammatory, antinociceptive and antimicrobial properties. The leaves of this powerful plant are the basis for the preparation of eucalyptus tea, since these Leaves contain volatile oils, tannins, flavonoids, aldehydes that give it those antimicrobial, antispasmodic, decongestant, antiseptic and antioxidant properties. 3 BENEFITS OF EUCALIPTO TEA Help eliminate mucus in the throat: Eucalyptus It contains effective biocomposses that help eliminate and reduce phlegms more easily and decreasing the feeling of discomfort, to fluidify bronchial secretions and fight respiratory infections. These effects of eucalyptus are because it is rich in flavonoids, triterpenes, tannins, phenolic acids derived from benzoic acid, phenolic acids derived from cinamic acid and floroglucinol, according to Tua Saud. Decreases inflammation: Eucalyptus has Antioxidant and anti -inflammatory compounds that are key to combating and relieving respiratory infections and body discomfort. Compounds to clear these benefits, the essential oil that contains cineol and terpineol, so eucalyptus tea can be effective in case of flu and colds. Clear the respiratory tract: by contener Cineol, effective to combat infections, eucalyptus is a recommended option in case of flu or cold, sinusitis or asthma, sinusisitis, Highlights a work published by TUA Saude. Eucalyptus leaves can be used to make steam inhalations to decongest the respiratory tract and uncovering the nose. Eucalyptus tea Eucalyptus tea is easy to prepare, you just have Ingredients: 1 tablespoon dry eucalyptus leaves 150 ml of water. Mode of preparation 1.- Brush the water to boil 2.- Turn off the fire, remove and add eucalyptus. 3.- Tape and let stand for 5 minutes. 4.- Stop and serve, The Tua Saude specialized site recommends consuming between 2 and 3 times a day. Continue reading: (Tagstotranslate) Medicinal herbs (T) Medicinal plants

How a plague threatens to become a public health crisis

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Two years ago, a group of researchers and scientific advisors regarding pests, revealed that ticks (Hyalomma Lusitanicum) They had become strong in Catalonia. The invasive species It had been located in 3rd municipalities of the region of Barcelona and one of that of Tarragona. It was, as the researchers repeated by active and passive, a “potential public health problem.” One that did not get control It would be very “Difficult to control” in a short time. Then, As the researchers explain nowthe authorities prepared to do absolutely nothing. And the situation has been uncontrolled. If two years ago, the number of Catalan municipalities where the presence of the tick had been detected It was 31; Today the plague has been located In 81 municipalities (55 located in Barcelona and 26 in Tarragona). What happened? Beyond the inaction of public health authorities, the increase in ticks in Catalonia is not accidental. The Hyalomma Lusitanicum proliferate thanks to The high temperatures of recent yearsto changes in soil uses (which unbalance ecosystems and make them more vulnerable to invasive species) and, above all, To increase the main hosts From this tick: rabbits and The wild boars. But … Why is this a problem? It must be recognized that, at first glance, ticks do not seem like a big public health problem, but what if they are. Above all, because we talk about disease vectors at a historical moment in which these diseases are just around the corner. For the Hyalomma Lusitanicum, What most worries the experts is their relationship with Crimea-Congo hemorrhagic fevera serious illness that we detected in Spain in 2016 and has a mortality rate between 10% and 40%. It is not the only pathology (the Lyme disease Or Babesiosis are also transmitted thanks to them), but it is the clearest show of how the plague could cause serious problems in a densely populated area. And what can be done? At the time, researchers They raised that we had to “start a monitoring program to know the distribution of this and other ticks.” One with sufficient detail to allow elaborate ambitious control plants; something that the Gares Project of the Ministry of Health I would not allow. But, in reality, the problem goes further: it is something that shows everything that remains to be done. It seems that we have not come to understand that the epidemiological situation of our country (and the world) has changed radically. The geoclimatic borders containing the diseases have disappeared, the world has flattened and we have to assemble epidemiologically to defend ourselves. What the ticks show is that we are not doing it. Image | Adam Roscoe | Carlos Pradera & Agustín Estrada-Peña In Xataka | The ‘era of epidemics’ has already begun: are we prepared to face them?

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