Browse Tag

health

3 mins read

Most Sneakers Are Not Built for Women’s Feet

Imagine effortlessly gliding through your run, each step feeling like a natural extension of your movement. Envision shoes that seamlessly merge with your feet, offering both support and momentum as you propel forward.

It sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? Yet, for many women, the reality of running often involves painful blisters, sore ankles, and a persistent feeling that something isn’t quite aligned.

The truth behind this discomfort lies in the design of most sneakers available. Surprisingly, many of these shoes weren’t crafted with women’s feet in mind. Traditionally, manufacturers followed a “shrink it and pink it” strategy, essentially resizing men’s shoe structures and adding pink or purple colors.

Allyson Felix, an Olympic icon and the founder of women’s footwear brand, Saysh, delves into this issue: “Unlocking the secrets behind making shoes was an eye-opener for me. It’s surprisingly straightforward, but I never gave it much thought. Think about this: shoes are shaped based on a mold of a foot, but here’s what’s shocking – most brands (yes, the ones you’re picturing right now) have been using a man’s foot as the template, even for so-called ‘women’s’ shoes.”

Allyson’s realization mirrors a glaring gap in the footwear industry. Women’s feet differ significantly from men’s—they tend to have wider forefeet, higher arches, and different heel structures. Squeezing these unique feet into shoes designed for a different anatomy only leads to pain and dissatisfaction.

Sneakers

This oversight is where Saysh excels. Their FemiformityFIT Technology is tailored specifically to women’s feet. Podiatrist, Dr. Sandi Nagata, underscores the importance of such innovation: “Many women face discomfort due to ill-fitting shoes while running, which can discourage them from continuing. Having a running shoe that considers the individual foot’s structure, especially for beginners, is crucial in preventing unnecessary pain.”

Saysh takes pride in supporting women through every stride, especially during motherhood. For every customer who becomes an expectant mother, they send a fresh pair of sneakers in a new size, free of charge. 

Allyson’s journey speaks volumes about the transformation these shoes offer. It was in her own Saysh shoes that she returned to the Olympics, becoming the most decorated track and field athlete. This personal testament exemplifies the power of footwear designed to embrace women’s distinct anatomical needs.

Sneakers

Saysh invites women to prioritize comfort and performance in their running experiences, ushering in a future where each stride is a testament to empowerment, support, and celebration of individuality.

Visit Saysh.com and join them at @bySaysh on InstagramFacebookTwitter, and TikTok.

11 mins read

Revolutionizing Cancer Care: The Innovative Approach of A28 Therapeutics

Dr. Stanley Lewis is the founder and CEO of A28 Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of its targeted lytic peptide platform for the treatment of cancer.

In this interview, Dr. Lewis discusses his inspiration for starting A28 Therapeutics, the company’s focus on targeted oncolytic peptides (TOPs), and the promise of AT-101 in the treatment of metastatic ovarian cancer with liver metastases and hepatocellular carcinoma. 

He also shares his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and researchers looking to make a significant impact in the field of healthcare and biotechnology.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and what inspired you to start A28 Therapeutics?

I am an internal medicine physician by training. I graduated from the University of Texas McGovern Medical School in Houston and obtained a master’s degree in public health. After completing my internship, residency, and fellowship, I joined the faculty of the medical school in the Department of Internal Medicine. 

As an academic physician, I saw patients, taught students and residents, and conducted dozens of clinical trials. My area of interest was HIV/AIDS, and in my practice, I cared for mostly indigent patients in the Houston area. I was recruited from academia to join a small biotech company and lead a program for the development of a new treatment for HIV.  After quite a few twists and turns, we were fortunate to earn FDA approval for TROGARZO, the first long-acting medication for the treatment of multi-drug resistant HIV disease.

There are several reasons for founding A28 Therapeutics. First, I really take the Hippocratic Oath seriously. In particular, the commitment to “First, do no harm” really guides me. During those early days of treating HIV patients, the medicines were very difficult to tolerate.

I felt terrible that my patients had the unenviable choice of taking some very toxic medications to control the virus or not taking the medicines and dying of AIDS. This was the primary reason I agreed to develop TROGARZO as my clinical trial patients commented that it was perhaps the most tolerable medicine they had ever taken. 

In many ways, I see current cancer patients having to face a similar dilemma as they weigh the risks and benefits of enduring toxic chemotherapies in exchange for a few more months of life. At A28 Therapeutics, we want to change that. Our vision is a world where patients no longer fear cancer or its treatments.

My second reason for starting the company is rooted in the type of molecules we develop. Interestingly, cancer and infectious diseases have a lot in common. In particular, bacteria have negatively charged cell walls and have been treated with lytic peptides such as vancomycin for decades. In fact, your body makes lytic peptides as part of the immune system. Well, cancer cells are also negatively charged; so, why not treat them with lytic peptides? 

In many ways, our molecules are like antibiotics that have been retooled to treat cancer. I appreciated their unique mechanism of eliminating cancer and their remarkable tolerability. To me, lytic peptides are just what the infectious disease doctor ordered.  Hopefully, soon, lytic peptides will be just what the oncologist orders.

My final reason for founding this company is deeply personal. My father died of metastatic gastric cancer. It was his dream that his son become a doctor, but before I could graduate, he died of this terrible disease. Like many solid tumors, gastric cancer can be cured surgically if you can diagnose it early before it spreads. However, when my father was diagnosed, his tumor had spread to his liver, and he was only given three months to live. 

The medications we are developing at A28 have an interesting biodistribution pattern such that they accumulate and persist in the liver for three days. This high exposure in liver tissue is believed to make them particularly useful in patients who have cancer that has metastasized to the liver or originates in this organ. So, when I had the opportunity to develop a drug that could help people who, like my father, had metastatic disease to their liver, I knew that I hadn’t found this medication, it found me.

A28 Therapeutics is known for its focus on targeted oncolytic peptides (TOPs) for cancer treatment. Could you explain the concept of TOPs and what differentiates them from traditional cancer therapies?

Targeted Oncolytic Peptides are a combination of a hormone-targeting unit and a lytic peptide payload. Our first molecule, AT-101, is a 10-amino acid hormone (luteinizing hormone releasing hormone – LHRH) targeting unit combined with a highly positively charged 18-amino acid lytic peptide payload.  The LHRH hormone targeting unit binds to hormone receptors found on the surface of a myriad of different tumor types. This binding brings the positively charged lytic peptide in proximity to the negatively charged cancer cell membrane resulting in a disruption of the membrane and killing of the tumor cell.  An animation of this mechanism can be viewed on the website.

Healthy cells do not have a strong negative charge and therefore are not harmed by this medication. The most noteworthy side effect observed through Phase 2 clinical trials with AT-101 is a transient, treatable rash. Another feature that differentiates our lead compound from traditional chemotherapies is that the killing of tumor cells by lytic peptides causes the tumor cell to release its antigens. This type of cancer cell death alerts the immune system much like a vaccine allowing for amplification of cancer killing throughout the body.

Finally, in laboratory testing, AT-101 synergies with all manner of chemotherapy and newer immunotherapies and may even resensitize resistant tumor cells to chemotherapies that have stopped working.  When you think about all the ways you would want cancer therapy to work, AT-101 really has it all.

What motivated you to concentrate on developing AT-101, and how has it shown promise in the treatment of metastatic ovarian cancer with liver metastases and hepatocellular carcinoma?

For a variety of reasons, most solid tumors metastasize to the liver, and patients with liver metastases invariably have shorter life expectancy than patients without liver metastases. In addition to being remarkably well tolerated, in a retrospective analysis of the Phase 2 study, the subset of patients with metastatic ovarian cancer and liver metastases who received AT-101 plus paclitaxel (standard of care chemotherapy) vs paclitaxel alone, the AT-101 treated patients experienced a 61% increase in overall survival. 

We want to confirm this observation prospectively in our next trial. Additionally, we plan to test AT-101 in hepatocellular (liver) cancer because the molecule achieves high and prolonged concentrations in the liver allowing for potentially high anticancer activity.

What have been the most significant milestones or achievements for A28 Therapeutics thus far in its mission to transform cancer care?

A28 Therapeutics was recognized as a 2023 Cool Company by Connect San Diego.  This award is bestowed on companies considered to be the fastest and most exciting startups in Southern California.

What are the company’s top priorities for the next 12-18 months?

We are seeking to raise a $20M Series A round of financing to prospectively validate the retrospectively observed efficacy signal from the Phase 2 clinical trial. Our next trial is a 2-stage adaptive trial design. The first stage will confirm the efficacy signal, and the second stage will expand to a sufficient number of patients to support an application for accelerated approval.

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs and researchers looking to make a significant impact in the field of healthcare and biotechnology?

The most important thing I’ve learned is that there is no blueprint for this stuff. You must have integrity because lives depend on your honest and thoughtful assessments of data. 

You must be resilient because things will not always go as planned. You must be patient as it will always take longer and cost more than you expect. You should build a strong network because this is not something you can do alone.

And finally, it helps if you are passionate about your work. You will need this to drive and sustain you on this journey.

by Tony O. Lawson

2 mins read

After Decades of Fighting, Henrietta Lacks Family Finally Gets Some Justice

The family of Henrietta Lacks, a Black woman whose cells were used for groundbreaking medical research without her consent, has reached a settlement with Thermo Fisher Scientific, a company that used her cells without her consent. The settlement was announced on August 1, 2023.

The terms of the settlement are confidential, but the family’s lawyers say that it includes a financial payment and a commitment from Thermo Fisher to engage in outreach and education about the Lacks family’s story.

The settlement is a significant victory for the Lacks family, who have been fighting for decades to ensure that their mother’s legacy is honored and that her cells are used ethically. The settlement also sends a message to other companies that use human cells without consent that they will be held accountable.

“This settlement is a long-awaited victory for the Lacks family,” said Ben Crump, one of the family’s lawyers. “It is a recognition of the harm that was done to Henrietta Lacks and her family, and it is a step towards ensuring that her cells are used ethically in the future.”

The settlement also includes a commitment from Thermo Fisher to create a fund to support research into cervical cancer, the disease that killed Henrietta Lacks.

“We are pleased to have reached a settlement with the Lacks family,” said Peter R. Jones, president of Thermo Fisher Scientific. “We believe that this settlement is in the best interests of all parties involved, and we are committed to working with the Lacks family to honor Henrietta Lacks’ legacy.”

The settlement is a significant step forward in the fight for justice for Henrietta Lacks and her family. It is a reminder that the exploitation of human cells without consent is unacceptable and that those who engage in this practice will be held accountable.

The settlement also sends a message to the scientific community that the use of human cells must be done ethically and with the consent of the donors.

 

1 min read

Sea Moss Health Benefits | Black Owned Sea Moss Brand

Chondrus crispus, also known as sea moss, is a sea plant that has been utilized in Ireland and Jamaica for decades. A gel form of the plant is commonly added to food and beverages, citing its healing and health-enhancing properties.

It is rich in vitamins and minerals, including A, C, and E, as well as minerals. Sea moss has also been demonstrated to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it beneficial for treating conditions such as arthritis and asthma.

Iodine, carotene, and sulfur-containing compounds can all be found in sea moss. The potassium, calcium, selenium, magnesium, manganese, and iron found in sea moss are among the reasons it is consumed.

If you’re interested in trying sea moss, check out the Black-owned business called The Transformation Factory.

sea moss

The Transformation Factory was founded by Alexiou Gibson. Weighing in at over 500 lbs. at 21 years of age, he was inspired to live a healthier life after his physician told him that he would not live to see thirty.

In an interview with us, Alexiou shared his transformation story and his experience landing a $600K deal on Shark Tank.

sea moss
The Transformation Factory founder Alexiou Gibson accepts offer from Mark Cuban and Kevin Hart on ABC’s Shark Tank to expand health supplement product. (Photo Credit: ABC/Christopher Willard)

=========================================================================

Get 10% off with code SBLK10

=========================================================================

4 mins read

Sextech: The $37 Billion Sexual Wellness & Education Industry That No One is Talking About

The sex technology or sextech industry has grown rapidly in recent years, with a lot more growth predicted in coming years.

According to Statista, the sexual wellness market was valued at $26 billion in 2017 and is forecasted to reach about $37.2 billion by 2023.

The sextech market does not gain as much attention as other tech sectors such as fintech, robotics, AI, etc. This is most likely due to the taboo and stigma attached to the term.

Let’s find out how the sextech industry is revolutionizing sexual and wellness education and experience.

What Is Sextech?

Wikipedia describes sextech as “Sex technology is a technology and technology-driven ventures that are designed to enhance, innovate, and disrupt human sexuality or the human sexual experience.”

In simpler terms, sex technology is more than just sex robots. Entrepreneurs are coming up with brilliant and innovative ideas to apply sextech in sexual education, spreading awareness about good sexual practices.

Information about attitudes and sexual wellness is being made mainstream and accessible through this, too. There are quite a few smart ventures coming along to make that happen. 

Why Is Sextech Booming?

The sexual wellness market is booming at a rapid pace. According to the Sexual Wellness Market – Global Outlook & Forecast 2021-2026, the market is expected to reach USD 45.05 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 7.83%. This report highlights the following factors to be the main contributors to the market development

  • Increased digital marketplace penetration
  • Increasing usage of dating applications in the APAC region
  • Growth promoted by sexual wellness festivals, trade shows, and expos
  • Increase in government initiatives to distribute free contraceptives

These are not the only reasons behind the growth of the industry. Millennials and Gen Z are much more open to sexual conversations and preferences. They have indeed grown up with pornography as the primary source of sexual education, but they are much more open to exploring new avenues and prioritizing sexual wellness.

Industry Trends

Sexual Wellness

One of the most promising areas the sextech industry is opening is sexual wellness as a lifestyle. Quite a few prominent names are taking this avenue.

Sexual Education & Good Practice Cultivation

Millennials and Gen Z rarely had healthy sexual education alternatives other than porn because there were sexual education initiatives in schools or conversations by adults around them, albeit nascent. Cindy Gallop, founder and CEO of MakeLoveNotPorn took a brilliant initiative to mainstream content to promote consent, good sexual values, and attitudes.

Sexual Experience

The sextech industry is also promoting the option to explore more ways to enhance the sexual experience for everyone, including people with disabilities. 

Sexual technology is providing a lot of options for better accessibility to real-world sexual education and sexual wellness products or services as well as information about good sexual practices, and behaviors.

The industry is finding an increasingly large consumer base. Investors are not as hesitant about investing in this sector. Therefore, the sector is picking up pace and is expected to expand rapidly.

4 mins read

5 Tips on How You Can Maintain and Improve Your Gut Health

Did you know that more than half of your body’s immune system lies in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract? Clearly, your gut health is closely linked to your overall health and wellbeing. But, what exactly does it mean when people talk about a healthy gut?

Your gut is filled with microorganisms like good bacteria and yeast which promote healthy digestion. An imbalance in this gut microbiota can cause several gastrointestinal conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), negatively affect your immune system, and even result in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and atopy.

So, maintaining the balance of small bacteria and other microorganisms that live in your digestive tract is crucial to ensuring your physical, mental, and immune health.

Top Tips on How to Maintain Gut Health

Exercise, Exercise, & Exercise

gut health

Engaging in any kind of physical activity keeps your colon healthy and ensures regular and clear bowel movements.

As per the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderately intense physical activity each week.

They should also make muscle-strengthening exercises a part of their weekly exercise regimen. This is more so important for people who are prone to serious digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Shift to a Nutrient-Rich Diet

gut health

The kind of food people eat can directly impact their gut. Ideally, you should consume smaller, more frequent meals. This can prevent the GI tract from getting overwhelmed.

Eating a balanced diet that includes all the necessary nutrients is directly linked to a happy gut. Try including the following food items in your diet:

  • Fresh, Unprocessed, and Clean Food
  • Mixed Diets Lead to the Growth of Diverse Microbiomes in the Gut
  • Fiber-Rich Vegetables, Legumes, and Fruits, Such as Raspberries, Green Peas, Broccoli, Chickpeas, Artichoke, Lentils, Banana, Beans, Apples, and More
  • Food Rich in Polyphenols, Such as Cocoa and Dark Chocolate, Red Wine, Grape Skins, Green Tea, Almonds, and Blueberries

Remember to eat at least 25 grams of fiber a day. You also need to chew your food thoroughly to make it easier for your digestive system to process. Additionally, make sure to drink at least eight glasses of water a day to keep the body hydrated.

Probiotic Supplements

Probiotics are known for their ability to reduce symptoms of certain medical conditions, boost immune health, improve depressive symptoms, and even promote weight loss. They also encourage the growth of good bacteria in your gut.

Probiotic and fermented food like yogurt, kefir, kimchi, tempeh, kombucha, and fresh sauerkraut must be a part of your everyday diet. Alternatively, you can also choose to consume high-quality probiotic supplements, such as Problk Health’s Gut Reaction – Probiotic Advanced Formula, to effectively improve your gut health.

Manage Your Stress Levels

Your stress levels and gut health can be directly proportional to each other. The more stressed you are, the more negatively it will impact gut health. This is why embracing an active lifestyle—complete with yoga, therapy, meditation, and journaling—is key to not just your gut health, but your overall physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

Limit the alcohol and caffeine intake

Both caffeine and alcohol act as digestive stimulants and can disrupt the digestive process. So, limit their intake for a healthy gut.

Maintaining your gut health should be an integral part of your healthcare regime. The team at Problk Health Vitamins will gladly help you find the right probiotic supplements to ensure a healthy gut and body.

To learn more about Problk Health Vitamins, visit their website and get 15% off Your first order using code “shoppeblack”

3 mins read

5 Ways to Prevent Spring Allergies

Want to enjoy the beauty of spring without having to deal with pollen allergies? These five helpful tips are a good starting point to prevent watery and itchy eyes, runny nose, and sore throat this spring.

Top 5 Tips to Prevent Spring Allergies

Limit Your Outdoor Time

If you are particularly prone to allergies, it makes sense to limit your outdoor time. In spring, trees release billions of pollen grains into the air, which can trigger an allergic reaction when inhaled.

Try to stay indoors during the early morning hours and on windy days to avoid inhaling pollen. Alternatively, wear sunglasses and a mask as a preventive measure if you are heading out. You should also shower and change immediately once you get home.

Consider Natural Treatments

Instead of pills, consider natural vitamin supplements. For instance, you can consume Problk Health’s apple cider vinegar to keep your allergies at bay.

According to research, ACV has several natural healing properties, including the production of protective enzymes and antibodies in the mucus to curb allergies. ACV is also known to reduce body inflammation and help manage allergies better.

Eat Healthily

Consuming a vitamin-rich and balanced diet can help your body stave off allergies more effectively. Make sure to include allergy-alleviating foods, such as nuts, fish, apples, red grapes, and tomatoes, in your day-to-day diet.

Clean Your Home

You can keep your indoors clean by investing in a high-efficiency particulate air filter. These types of tools can successfully remove harmful irritants and make your home a pollen-free zone.

You can also consider buying indoor air-purifying houseplants, such as English ivy, bamboo, and snake plants, that naturally get rid of pollutants. Also, try to keep your windows shut as much as possible to keep the pollen out.

Seek Medical Attention

If your symptoms persist, consult with your doctor. Based on the severity and persistence of your allergies, they may prescribe eye drops or oral antihistamines to help alleviate the symptoms.

Some medicines might make you drowsy, so take them with caution, preferably at night. Also, remember that the symptoms won’t go away overnight. You can also talk to your doctor to figure out if allergy flu shots are the right option for you.

If your eyes start to water and you’re sneezing non-stop, visit your doctor and get a prescription for anti-allergy medications. Being proactive can stop the allergy in its tracks before it becomes a full-blown problem.

Looking for more suggestions to prevent or deal with springtime allergies? Problk Health Vitamins can help you find the solutions you need to live a healthier life.

Get 15% off your first order using code “shoppeblack”

2 mins read

Black Owned Healthcare Fund Raises $72M, Becoming One of The Largest Fund Focused on Women’s Health

SteelSky Ventures is a Black owned venture capital firm focused on healthcare for women. The Atlanta-based venture capital firm recently announced the final close of its inaugural fund focused on improving access, care, and outcomes in women’s health.

The close of the fund brings SteelSky’s total assets under management to $72 million, making SteelSky one of the largest venture capital fund focused on women’s healthcare.

SteelSky Ventures was founded by Maria Toler Velissaris after she uncovered a gap in funding for women, and more specifically, women’s health.  To date, Maria has invested in over 20 female-led companies.

The League of Extraordinary Funders: Meet Maria Velissaris, SteelSky Ventures | by Grasshopper Bank | Grasshopper Bank | Medium
Maria Toler Velissaris, Founding Partner at SteelSky Ventures

“Women’s health is an area of tremendous growth potential, and SteelSky is building a pipeline of the next billion-dollar healthcare giants. We are proud to invest in entrepreneurs who are significantly progressing healthcare for women around the world,” Maria said.

SteelSky invests across the spectrum of women’s health indications and care modalities, including medical devices, consumer health, digital health, ePharmacy, and retail therapeutics. The fund’s innovative approach to women’s health also allows for investment in technology infrastructure that supports new and innovative care delivery models.

The fund’s limited partners include healthcare strategic investors such as the American Hospital Association (AHA), Eli Lilly, Blue Shield of California, MultiCare Hospital System, Henry Ford Hospital System, and Essential Access Health.

Tony O. Lawson


Don’t miss any articles! Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn & Twitter.

4 mins read

2022 Fitness and Gym Trends: How Do I Choose the Right Gym?

Trends change and evolve every single year, and fitness trends are no exception. For some people, the latest trends can be surprising since they might not have expected it to become popular. However, trends are similar to anything that experiences a surge in popularity, like a famous actor or actress, for example.

With time and age, its relevance begins to diminish and dip, and something newer, younger, or different becomes the next great fitness trend. That’s just the way it is with everything in life.

Top Fitness Trends for 2022

fitness trends

According to a global survey of fitness trends conducted by ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal, the #1 fitness trend in 2022 is wearable technology, which was previously #2 in 2021. Home workout gyms and outdoor exercise were ranked in the second and third spots in 2022.

Wearable technology as a trend is one that makes complete sense in the current fitness space since most people will want to see how well their fitness workouts are doing based on actual data.

People interested in wearable technology devices learn a lot about their calorie burn, their resting heart rate, their heart rate during exercise, and more. Wearable technology also tracks how many calories you burn in a day outside of exercise—from daily activities and using GPS tracking to stay on top of your step count.

As technology advances, wearable technology will likely grow in popularity, since it will start to offer a lot more than it already does, making it no surprise that it’s the #1 trend of 2022.

An interesting observation from the survey, however, is that online services like live and on-demand exercise classes fell to the ninth position this year. This is in stark contrast to 2021, where it stood at the #1 position in fitness trends.

A simple explanation for this is that during the pandemic people were unable to physically access gyms or other fitness spaces since they were temporarily closed.

Virtual workouts experienced their highest demand at the peak of the pandemic. Once that barrier was removed, however, people didn’t have to figure out how to exercise at home anymore.

How Do You Choose the Right Fitness Gym for You?

Here are a few questions you should consider before deciding on a gym:

  • Do you have to drive a long distance to exercise at the location?
  • Are the gym hours flexible to allow you the freedom of late or early workouts?
  • Does the gym offer childcare so your child can stay with you while you exercise?
  • Do the gym staff make sure everything is completely wiped down and that the gym is clean? Gym cleanliness is more important than ever in these times.
  • Most importantly, are the gym staff friendly, and do they treat their members with respect?

Taking your health into your own hands can seem overwhelming at first, but with the right guidance, you’ll be well on your way to being the best version of yourself.

If you need help getting there, get in touch with Ethical Inc. today.

4 mins read

How Exactly Does Drinking Alcohol Affect Your Heart?

The narrative around drinking alcohol is something that is constantly changing. Is drinking alcohol always bad for you? Does drinking in moderation actually help your heart health? Is there a certain amount you should drink to have the best health possible?

We all know that excessive drinking is bad for your health. However, does drinking in moderation improve your health?

You might’ve heard that drinking a glass of wine is good for the heart—it’s one of the most common beliefs around alcohol and heart health and has been backed by some small preliminary studies in the past.

Recent developments, however, tell a different story. Studies from the World Heart Federation as of January 20th, 2022 contradict this previous information.

What Is the World Heart Federation?

The World Heart Federation is a Geneva-based organization that advocates for heart health and represents hundreds of heart associations worldwide. They recently released a new policy titled ‘The Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Cardiovascular Health’.

The crux of this policy brief is that any amount of alcohol—not just heavy drinking—can increase the risk of heart disease. Even small amounts of alcohol can have negative effects. The brief even articulates that previous studies claiming that alcohol in moderation can be good for you were based on observational research, and did not account for other important factors.

According to The World Heart Federation, the most common health problems associated with alcohol consumption are:

  • Coronary Disease
  • Several Types of Cancer
  • Aortic Aneurysm
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Stroke
  • Weight Gain

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, with over 17.9 million lives being attributed to it every year. In 2019 alone, there were 2.4 million deaths due to heart disease as a result of alcohol consumption. The World Heart Federation has since called for a relative reduction of 10% in the per capita consumption of alcohol between 2013 to 202.

While the World Heart Federation takes a staunch approach against alcohol consumption, the American Heart Association (AHA) has a more flexible perspective. According to the AHA, moderation when drinking alcohol is key—their moderation metric proposes no more than one drink a day for women, and two drinks a day for men.

According to Dr. Mariell Jessup, the Chief Science and Medical Officer to the American Heart Association, “we concluded that if one doesn’t drink alcohol, do not start; and if one does drink alcohol, limit intake.”

How Does Alcohol Affect Your Weight?

In terms of weight gain, simply drinking two glasses of beer or wine a day can have a noticeable impact, especially if you are already on a diet or trying to manage or lose weight. Two 12 ounce beers can be anywhere between 280 calories to 382 calories, while two 12 ounce glasses of wine can be anywhere from 350 calories to 364 calories. If you’re trying to lose weight, then alcohol probably isn’t the best choice for you. If you want to be healthy, try replacing your alcohol intake with water.

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, it comes down to you. If you do decide to drink alcohol, make sure to do it in moderation so it doesn’t have a negative effect on your health.

A huge part of your personal wellbeing comes from your daily habits and lifestyle, so if you incorporate minimizing alcohol into your life, you’ll have a higher chance of improving your personal health.

A well-rounded strategy for health needs more than solely dieting or exercise, or even limiting alcohol consumption.

To learn more about how to reach your health and fitness goals, visit Ethical Inc. today.

1 2 3 6