High Protein Diet and Human Health Essays - Diets, Nutrition

High Protein Diet and Human Health Essays - Diets, Nutrition High Protein Diet and Human Health February 8 2016 MYP Year 4 B By Naim Al-Haj Ali Many people try to lose weight using different diets and ways, maybe by using some kind of medicines or herbs, other people try to go to the gym more to burn more fat. Some people choose high protein diets, and others choose low protein diets. But what is the difference? And how do they work? At first, to understand how the diets work, we need to understand the difference between proteins and carbohydrates. The two are macro molecules or biological molecules, but carbohydrates are a short-term energy storage, where they do not store a lot of energy and are consumed first by the body. On the other hand proteins are also important for the body as they are a vital element for enzymes and the immune system, also no cells in the body can live or reproduce without proteins. When the carbohydrates are consumed for energy, lipids that are also a macro molecule come in place, as they are also called fats, which is used as a long-term energy storage that has more calories per gram when compared with carbohydrates. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention recommends that the average consumption of proteins for women must be in the range of 46 grams every day, and for men about 56 grams every day. Also the CDS recommends that 10% to 35% of the calories consumed by the human body must come from protein sources. High protein diets are diets in which you eliminate the carbohydrates from your diet and consume large amounts of proteins, like meats and some high protein plants. Usually, foods with high amounts of proteins also have some amounts of lipids or fats. These diets goal is to

Neurotransmitters Definition and List

Neurotransmitters Definition and List Neurotransmitters are chemicals that cross synapses to transmit impulses from a neuron to another neuron, glandular cell, or muscle cell. In other words, neurotransmitters are used to send signals from one part of the body to another. Over 100 neurotransmitters are known. Many are simply constructed from amino acids. Others are more complex molecules. Neurotransmitters perform many vital functions in the body. For example, they regulate heartbeat, tell the lungs when to breathe, determine the set point for weight, stimulate thirst, affect mood, and control digestion. The synaptic cleft was discovered by Spanish pathologist  Santiago Ramà ³n y Cajal in the early 20th century. In 1921, German pharmacologist Otto Loewi verified that communication between neurons was the result of released chemicals. Loewi discovered the first known neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. How Neurotransmitters Work The axon terminal of a synapse stores neurotransmitters in vesicles. When stimulated by an action potential, synaptic vesicles of a synapse release neurotransmitters, which cross the small distance (synaptic cleft) between an axon terminal and a dendrite via diffusion. When the neurotransmitter binds a receptor at the dendrite, the signal is communicated. The neurotransmitter remains in the synaptic cleft for a short time. Then it is either returned to the presynaptic neuron through the process of reuptake, metabolized by enzymes, or bound to the receptor. When a neurotransmitter binds to a postsynaptic neuron, it can either excite it or inhibit it. Neurons are often connected to other neurons, so at any given time a neuron  may be subject to multiple neurotransmitters. If the stimulus for excitation is greater than the inhibitory effect, the neuron will fire and create an action potential that releases neurotransmitters to another neuron. Thus, a signal is conducted from one cell to the next. Types of Neurotransmitters One method of classifying neurotransmitters is based on their chemical composition. Categories include: Amino acids: ÃŽ ³-aminobutyric acid (GABA), aspartate, glutamate, glycine, D-serineGases: carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), nitric oxide (NO)Monoamines: dopamine, epinephrine, histamine, norepinephrine, serotoninPeptides:  ÃŽ ²-endorphin, amphetamines, somatostatin, enkephalinPurines: adenosine, adenosine triphosphate (ATP)Trace amines: octopamine, phenethylamine, trypramineOther molecules: acetylcholine, anandamideSingle ions: zinc The other major method of categorizing neurotransmitters is according to whether they are excitatory or inhibitory. However, whether a neurotransmitter is excitatory or inhibitory depends on its receptor. For example, acetylcholine is inhibitory to the heart (slows heart rate), yet excitatory to skeletal muscle (causes it to contract). Important Neurotransmitters Glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter in humans, used by about half of the neurons in the human brain. It is the primary excitatory transmitter in the central nervous system. One of its functions is to help form memories. Interestingly, glutamate is toxic to neurons. Brain damage or a stroke can lead to an excess of glutamate, killing neurons.GABA is the primary inhibitory transmitter in the vertebrate brain. It helps to control anxiety. GABA deficiency may result in seizures.Glycine is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate spinal cord.Acetylcholine stimulates muscles, functions in the autonomic nervous system and sensory neurons, and is associated with REM sleep. Many poisons act by blocking acetylcholine receptors. Examples include botulin, curare, and hemlock. Alzheimers disease is associated with a significant drop in acetylcholine levels.Norepinephrine (noradrenaline) increases heart rate and blood pressure. It is part of the bodys fight or flight syst em. Norepinephrine is also needed to form memories. Stress depletes stores of this neurotransmitter. Dopamine is an inhibitory transmitter associated with the reward center of the brain. Low dopamine levels are associated with social anxiety and Parkinsons disease, while excess dopamine is related to schizophrenia.Serotonin is an inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in mood, emotion, and perception. Low serotonin levels can lead to depression, suicidal tendencies, anger management issues, difficulty sleeping, migraines, and an increased craving for carbohydrates. The body can synthesize serotonin from the amino acid tryptophan, which is found in foods such as warm milk and turkey.Endorphins are a class of molecules similar to opioids (e.g., morphine, heroin) in terms of structure and function. The word endorphin is short for endogenous morphine. Endorphins are inhibitory transmitters associated with pleasure and pain relief. In other animals, these chemicals slow metabolism and permit hibernation.