There's the crash: The downsides of a widespread dependence on caffeine

Image Source: ourbabynews.com

When one takes note of the trend in food products widely available today, it becomes evident that there is an increasing demand for caffeine among consumers.

Previously, there were many people proclaiming their love for coffee. This was followed by an increase in the popularity of energy drinks. Currently, it seems that other food producers are trying to cash in on the success of energy drinks and are finding ways to include caffeine into other types of food products like gum, biscuits, and potato chips.

Consumers are reported to be buying more products that are marketed as energy-boosting because more and more people are citing exhaustion as one of their top health concerns. People from all over the world bear the burden of their daily duties, and many individuals feel like they need extra help to get through the day.

Image Source: hellawella.com

However, health experts warn against the overdependence on the energy-boosting substance. As always, doctors recommend keeping caffeine consumption within acceptable levels. When taken excessively, caffeine may actually contribute to the energy problems of a person. For instance, one may be lacking in sleep due to the effects of caffeine to one’s sleep pattern.

Caffeine can only do so much in boosting a person’s energy level. When tiredness persists as an issue, doctors recommend looking for other solutions like examining and changing one’s rest habits or adding exercise to the daily schedule.

Image Source: talk-doctor.com

Satori World Medical provides high-quality healthcare services to patients nationwide. Find more links to articles on health issues concerning the nation at www.satoriworldmed.com.

Study reveals new information on why red meat is bad for the heart

Image Source: online.wsj.com

Previous studies have long since confirmed that red meat can be harmful to the heart. By now, many people know that the saturated fat and the cholesterol in this type of meat contribute to the deterioration of heart health due to the gradual clogging of the arteries.

According to a group of researchers from the Cleaveland Clinic, however, there is more to this phenomenon than what is already known. Fat, it seems, is not the only culprit to increasing heart disease risks – the microbes and bacteria in a person’s gut may also contribute to worsening the condition.


The human gut is full of good bacteria, and recent studies have shown that these microbes can have a significant effect on a person’s health. A person’s diet, meanwhile, has been shown to have an impact on the types of bacteria present and more common in the gut at any given time.

Image Source: wageningenur.nl

Following these details, the researchers set out to learn how these microbes responded to a diet that included red meat. They were zeroing in on the compound carnitine, which is present in meat like beef, pork, duck, and lamb, because it was similar in structure to choline. This vitamin-b-group nutrient is metabolized by the gut bacteria into trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which transports cholesterol to the arteries.

The results of the study confirm that a meat-heavy diet does establish a cycle that promotes heart damage. People who eat more meat had more carnitine in their gut, which contributes to the increase of TMAO in their blood.

Fortunately, old advice still applies in order to reverse the trend. Limiting meat intake and substituting vegetables will help reduce the presence of bacteria like carnitine in the gut. With a reduced capacity to synthesize TMAO from carnitine, meat eaters may succeed in reducing their risk of heart disease.

Image Source: psmag.com

Satori World Medical, based in San Diego, is a leading provider of high-quality healthcare services to patients nationwide. For more about the developments in the healthcare industry, visit www.satoriworldmed.com.

The 2013 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report: Insights into growth areas for medical travel

Image Source: infomongolia.com

The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report for 2013 has recently been released, detailing the progress of 140 economies in improving their tourism industries. Using various data from publicly available sources, and international travel and tourism institutions and experts, the report highlights the important factors which make a country competitive in travel and tourism.

Leading the countries in competitiveness were: Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Canada, Sweden, and Singapore. Insights into how these countries maintained their high levels of T&T competitiveness can be found on the report. What is immediately evident, however, is that high-quality products and services still hold more importance than the costs to visit the destination.

Image Source: edition.cnn.com

Switzerland, for example, has some of the best infrastructure in the world, top marks for many of its hotels and tourism-specific facilities, and high safety and security, which contribute to its high rank in the competitiveness rating.

These factors also contribute to the attractiveness of a country to health and medical travelers. Consumers are still motivated by the lower costs of health care when they travel abroad, but many are becoming more fastidious about their choices. Apart from considering the costs, they also check for accreditation, connections with US hospitals, and the credentials of the doctor handling their treatment.

Growth in the medical travel industry, therefore, is fueled by various improvements in the delivery of health care and service. The countries that are expected to become more attractive travel destinations are those that can ensure safety, convenience, and world -class high-quality and affordable care.

Image Source: cruise-dude.com

For updates on the developments of the medical travel industries in various countries, visit Satori World Medical’s official website.

No to soda: A small lifestyle change that could mean a lot

There are many things an individual can do to lessen his health risks. One of them is cutting down on soda intake – a small lifestyle change that can do a lot of wonders to a person’s wellbeing.

Image Source: newswise.com

A new study, presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism 2013 Scientific Sessions, highlights the dire effects of soda to a person’s health. The research notes that about 180,000 deaths worldwide are linked to high consumption of the sugary drink as it increases a person’s risks of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. The study also found that 78% of the deaths due to over-consumption of sugary beverages were in low and middle-income countries.

At 318 deaths per 1 million adults, Mexico has the highest death rate due to sweet drinks. The country has the highest per-capita consumption of drinks high in sugar. Conversely, Japan, with the lowest per-capita consumption, had the lowest death rate at 10 deaths per 1 million adults. This large discrepancy should highlight just what this small change in lifestyle can do to the population of a country.

Image Source: impactlab.net

According to Dr. Gitanjali Singh, co-author of the study, the findings of the research should be used by policy-makers to strengthen policies for reducing the availability of sugary drinks in the market. Likewise, individuals should also significantly reduce their intake of sodas and look for healthy alternatives.

To put things in perspective, the American Heart Association warns that women should limit their added sugar to no more than 100 calories per day, which is about 6 teaspoons of sugar, while men should limit theirs to 150 calories or about 9 teaspoons. A can of soda contains about 140 calories total.

Image Source: allwomenstalk.com

Satori World Medical is a pioneering company in medical travel services. Its official website shares more information about better healthcare choices.