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4 Antioxidant Myths Busted

Bowls of Fruit — Image by Photo Mix from Pixabay

Free radicals are bad for the human body, right? They lead to chronic health conditions, including arthritis, cognitive decline, coronary heart diseases, cancer and can even cause death. To balance out the negative impact of free radicals on your body, you need antioxidants that you can find in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

And you may already be aware of the benefits you can get if you go for all the cranberry capsules and the effervescent vitamin C you can find on the shelves. If you are a health-conscious individual, chances are you must have heard a lot about antioxidants and might be working on adding them to your diet. But hold on! Not everything you know about antioxidants is factually correct. In this post, you will find four antioxidant myths busted.

#1. The More, The Better

Antioxidants are essential micronutrients that the human body needs to survive and function effectively. Your body needs antioxidants to counter the effects of free radicals that have a tendency to damage healthy cells in the body. Antioxidants work as donors that provide electrons to the highly reactive and unstable free radicals. These free radicals travel through the body and damage healthy cells, leading to the development of chronic diseases and premature aging.

Moreover, they also help reverse the damage caused by free radicals. While the human body generates antioxidants at the cellular level, they are often not enough, given the number of free radicals produced in the body due to environmental factors. That’s why you need to rely on external sources of antioxidants that come from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. But does that mean the more antioxidants you consume, the healthier you will be? Of course not. That’s a myth! Higher consumption of antioxidants is not always better.

Fresh Berries in a bowl — Photo by Brandon Wilson on Unsplash

Antioxidants work best when consumed with other important nutrients. But what is more important is the source of antioxidants. If you are inspired by the marketing gimmicks of the food and supplement industry, you are likely to buy processed foods and packaged cereals and supplements that claim to be a great source of antioxidants.

Do you know that antioxidant supplements may be doing a great job at fighting free radicals in a test tube but when they get inside the body, things change. The human body is complex and these supplements do not cause any good to it. Instead, there are studies that support the evidence that antioxidant supplements can harm the body.

So instead of relying on more processed foods that claim to be rich in antioxidants and consuming supplements, it’s best to stick to the basics and enjoy consuming five servings of fruits and vegetables and three servings of whole grains that are the prerequisite of a balanced diet. These servings from natural sources will provide you with the right amount of antioxidants that you need to stay healthy so you don’t fall into the trap of consuming more antioxidants from processed sources. Best is to find foods and supplements that are organic!

#2. Antioxidants are Difficult to Absorb

Avacodes and Salmon on a plate Another common myth is that they are difficult to absorb. Again that information is incorrect. In fact, essential micronutrients that possess antioxidant properties, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium are readily absorbed and utilized by the body. However, that might not always be the case with supplements that you find on the shelves. Most of the supplements on the market may be doing great in the labs but things are complicated in the human body.

There is inconclusive evidence on how certain antioxidants may behave inside the human body. Moreover, there are studies that confirm that certain antioxidants, when consumed in the form of supplements, contribute to an increased risk of various diseases, including lung cancer.

That being said, if you are inclined towards consuming antioxidants that come from natural sources, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, it’s important that you focus on “eating the rainbow.” Make sure you add a lot of color to your food plate and not just focus on leafy greens. Let reds, yellows, and purples be a part of your diet. And to get the most benefits, don’t forget to add teas and dark chocolate.

#3. Cooking Foods Rich in Antioxidants Can Destroy Their Beneficial Properties

This is a myth to an extent but it is also partly true. There is no black and white when it comes to cooking foods rich in antioxidant properties. Certain cooking methods, such as boiling and steaming are suitable for retaining the benefits of a few fruits and vegetables. However, other methods of cooking such as stir-fry and roasting may affect the nutritional content of antioxidant-rich foods. Since there is no single rule regarding cooking foods that applies to all antioxidant-rich foods, it is best to consume fruits and vegetables in their raw form so you can get the maximum benefits out of what you eat.

#4. All Antioxidants are Vitamins

You must have heard a lot about vitamins C and E and you know they are powerful antioxidants. But do you know that not all antioxidants are vitamins? It’s a myth that most people believe to be true but only a few are vitamins. Others are minerals, enzymes, and trace elements that facilitate the chemical reactions taking place inside the human body. Minerals such as zinc and selenium are powerful free-radical killers. Similarly, enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and catalase that are produced by the human body are also antioxidants.

Final Words

Vegetables

While researchers are trying to find out more about antioxidants, one piece of advice that will definitely help you stay healthy is consuming a balanced diet.

By keeping refined carbs and sugar at bay and adding a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to your plate, you can continue to counter the free radicals produced by your body and enjoy better health!

Understanding Antioxidants

Illustration of how Antioxidant Works Against Free Radicals — Bigstock

Overview

The human body is constantly facing threats from several external influences, such as pollution, viruses, and unhealthy diets, and free radicals are the major culprit. To fight off these cell killers, antioxidants are critical.

We discussed free radicals previously and how to fight them with antioxidants. Now, we will take a closer look at the role of radical cell fighters and how they help to maintain a healthy body. But before we get into the details, let’s review what free radicals are.

Free Radicals and the Role of Antioxidants

Antioxidant Illustration — Chemical diagram showing antioxidants donating an electron to a free radical. Bigstock_050221_Antio-272504797

The human body constantly forms free radicals due to environmental factors, such as exposure to radiation, UV rays, tobacco smoke, and other forms of air and water pollution. However, free radicals are also a by-product of several processes that take place inside the human body. It might come as a surprise that free radicals may also be produced in the body due to exercise.

Moreover, free radicals are required for specific processes taking place in the body. For example, when the immune system gets charged up to fight any external invaders, such as a virus, it requires free radicals to damage the external intruder, such as a bacteria or virus. In all, free radicals are not always harmful.

What is the Problem With Free Radicals?

The concerning aspect of free radicals is that they do not have a complete set of electrons, so they look to steal their required electrons from other atoms, consequently damaging atoms and molecules in the process. To counter the effects of free radicals, the human body needs antioxidants.

Antioxidants work by donating their electrons to the free radical cells, so they don’t have to borrow electrons from the healthy molecules in the body. Moreover, antioxidants also facilitate the repair process of the cells that have donated their electrons to the free radicals. So antioxidants are an essential part of countering the free radicals in your body.

As the free radicals travel their path of cell destruction, they are met with antioxidant defenses to keep these free radicals in check, but then when the free radicals outnumber antioxidants we have a big problem. This can lead to a condition that is known as oxidative stress. Constant oxidative stress can damage your cells, including your DNA and other healthy molecules in your body.

As a result, prolonged oxidative stress can significantly increase the risk of several health conditions, including premature aging, cognitive decline, arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.

Causes of Oxidative Stress

Bunch of used cigaretes — Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash

Certain lifestyle and environmental factors that can increase the risk of oxidative stress include:

- - Exposure to radiation, cigarette smoke, and environmental pollution
  - Excessive intake of alcohol, sugar, and polyunsaturated fats
  - Excessive intake of micronutrients, including iron, magnesium, copper, or zinc
  - Exposure to viruses, bacteria, and fungi
  - Intense and constant workout sessions that can damage tissues
  - An unhealthy diet that lacks antioxidants.

While the human body naturally produces some antioxidants, including glutathione and lipoic acid, they are not always enough to counter the free radicals produced by environmental factors.

Exploring the Environmental Factors

Photo of smoke from East Palestine Ohio trian derailment — Photo of smoke from East Palestine Ohio train derailment. Credit: Wikimedia CC, Thunderlips36

As mentioned, unhealthy dieting, alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking can increase free radicals in the body, but it doesn’t stop there.

One example is the train derailment in New Palestine, Ohio, which had thousands of gallons of vinyl chloride stored in some of the cars on this 150-car train.

To prevent this toxic chemical from being exposed to the environment, authorities agreed to burn it, but that action has caused controversy in itself as questions arose about its chemical makeup being potentially still active.

Regardless of the manner in which the vinyl chloride was released into the air, citizens of New Palestine are concerned that this chemical will cause harm to them. Technically speaking, there could be an increase in oxidative stress for the citizens who live in the area, and in the case of vinyl chloride, it can cause drowsiness and nausea.

Similar concerns for other chemicals that were on the train are Butyl acrylate, which can cause eye irritation, and Isobutylene, which can cause dizziness and headaches.

Although the above is a unique case of potential exposure to toxic chemicals, pollution, in general, is always out there in one form or another (e.g., vehicle gas exhausts, generating electric energy), and that’s why there is an increasing emphasis on consuming foods that are rich in antioxidants.

What Foods are High in Antioxidants?

Below are the nutrients with antioxidant activity and the foods that can provide you with significant antioxidants. With that, note that the darker the fruit or vegetable, the more antioxidants they will have!

Phenolic Compounds

These plant compounds are found in apples, red wine, onions, grapes, peanuts, tea, cocoa, and all types of berries.

Vitamin C

Vegetables such as bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, and cabbage are rich sources of vitamin C. Fruits, including grapefruit, honeydew, mango, kiwi, lemon, orange, and papaya, also contain a significant amount of vitamin C.

Vitamin E

Seeds and nuts, including almonds, sunflower seeds, and peanuts, contain a sufficient amount of vitamin E. Certain vegetables such as avocado, chard, leafy greens, and red peppers are also rich in vitamin E.

Selenium

A potent antioxidant is readily found in nuts, fish, beef, poultry, and whole grains.

CAROTENOIDS (Beta-carotene and Lycopene)

Carotenoids can be found in carrots, apricots, beet, asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers, kale, and cantaloupe. Fruits such as mangos, oranges, peaches, and grapefruits are also loaded with carotenoids.

Health Benefits of Antioxidants – What the Hype is All About?

Researchers started giving attention to antioxidants in the 1990s as they became more aware of the role of free radicals in coronary heart diseases. Around the same time, scientists also established a relationship between free radicals in the body and diseases, such as loss of vision, cancer, and several other chronic health conditions.

Given the results of several other similar studies, the media, and the food and supplement industries began to create hype about the benefits of “antioxidants.” It became a marketing buzzword for green teas, berries, and several other foods available on the store shelves. Moreover, the supplement industry also promoted the disease-fighting properties of antioxidants. The general public, unaware of the reality, got attracted to the antioxidant-rich breakfast cereals, energy drinks, and supplements.

However, that’s not how you can get the real benefits of antioxidants. So far, there is inconclusive evidence that the use of supplements and other processed food that claims to be “rich in antioxidants” provides real health benefits or not.

Indeed, antioxidants offer several health benefits, but you can only enjoy them if you consume antioxidants in their natural state. So instead of adding packaged and processed foods or supplements that claim to contain antioxidants, it is best to rely on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains that are loaded with natural plant compounds.

These naturally available antioxidants serve as great warriors to fight off free radicals and facilitate the natural repair process in the human body. Moreover, to get the maximum benefits of antioxidants, it is best to use them with other nutrients, plant compounds, and even with other antioxidants that your body requires.

Final Words

Oxidative stress caused by an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants can contribute to several chronic health conditions, including arthritis, cognitive impairment, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. But then it does not always mean the use of substances with antioxidant properties can fix the problem. It is especially true if these antioxidants do not come from a natural source. The studies provide evidence that naturally occurring antioxidants found in plants and vegetables can substantially impact diseases. However, there is inconclusive research on the benefits you can enjoy using supplements and other artificial sources of antioxidants that come in the form of processed foods.

So make sure you add a lot of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to your diet. At the same time, you need to limit your exposure to UV rays, radiation, and environmental pollution. Together, these two factors will reduce the risk of oxidative stress, which in turn will slow down the aging process while offering protection against several chronic diseases.

6 Things You Need to Know About the Moderna Vaccine for COVID-19

We have previously learned how these vaccines work. Now let’s delve a bit deeper into each of them starting with the Moderna vaccine.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the emergency use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine On December 18, 2020. That made it the second vaccine after Pfizer in the U.S. to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. There are a few differences though, so let’s take a look at how they differ and what you need to know about the Moderna vaccine.

#1. What is Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine?

Hand holding Mordera Vaccine — Photo: Bigstock

So far, the FDA has not approved any vaccine to prevent the spread of COVID-19 for general use (only for emergency use). The Moderna vaccine is authorized for use in adults aged 18 and above under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

The Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 is injected into the muscle, and two doses are administered one month apart.

#2. What Should You Tell Your Vaccination Provider Before You Get the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine?

Couple talking to a medical professional — Unsplash-080620-tim-gouw-bwki71ap-y8

Your vaccination provider needs to know the details of any medical conditions and allergies that you may have. You must share the following information with your vaccination provider before you get your first shot.

- - Any allergies that you may have,
  - Any bleeding disorders (or any medications that you may be using such as blood thinners),
  - If you are immuno-compromised or are taking any medications that may affect your immunity,
  - If you have any metabolic/chronic health conditions, such as diabetes,
  - If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding,
  - Have you received an initial dose of another vaccine for COVID-19?

Your vaccination provider may ask you for some more details depending upon your age and medical history.

#3. Is Moderna Vaccine Safe for Children?

So far, children have rarely developed severe forms of COVID-19, and deaths among children from the virus are even rarer. Moreover, parents are still reluctant to include their children in the clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccine. However, given the emergence of new and fast-spreading variants, younger children may contribute to the spread of the virus. Thus, it is integral that young children are offered immunization.

The Moderna vaccine is considered safe for adults over the age of 18. However, the new trials among children include kids as young as 12 years old. Therefore, there is no evidence for the safety of the vaccine among children.

#4. Is Moderna Vaccine Safe for Pregnant and Lactating Women?

Unsplash_Pregnant Woman_anastasiia-chepinska-B7JVo5y3gL8a

Pregnancy can significantly increase the risk of severe COVID-19. However, there is limited data on whether the Moderna vaccine is safe for pregnant women.

Pregnant women have not been actively involved in clinical trials. Moreover, breastfeeding mothers were also not part of the trials, so there is no numerical evidence on the safety of the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 for lactating mothers (and their children).

However, since pregnancy increases the risk of severe COVID-19, the WHO recommends that it’s in your best interest to take the vaccine if you are pregnant and have other health conditions. Moreover, the WHO recommends offering the Moderna vaccine for breastfeeding women; however, the organization does not recommend quitting lactation following the vaccination.

If you are pregnant or lactating and have not yet received the vaccine, it is best to contact your healthcare provider and find out the best choice for yourself.

#5. What are the Risks of the Moderna Vaccine for COVID-19?

Similar to the Pfizer vaccine, the risks are about the same. There is little chance that the Moderna vaccine can cause a severe allergic reaction, a condition that occurs within the first few minutes after getting the shot.

The condition can be treated, and that’s exactly why your medical provider may ask you to stay at the vaccination center for a while so they can monitor your condition after vaccination. Some of the signs of a severe allergic reaction include:

- - Difficulty in breathing,
  - Swelling on face and throat,
  - Palpitation or increased heart rate,
  - Rashes over the body, and
  - Dizziness and weakness.

Apart from these signs of a severe allergic reaction, and similar to the side effects of the Pfizer vaccine. It is possible but not guaranteed that individuals who get the Moderna vaccine will experience the following side effects.

- - Pain on the site of injection,
  - Swelling or tenderness in the arm,
  - Fatigue,
  - Muscle ache,
  - Joint pain,
  - Headache,
  - Nausea and vomiting, and
  - Chills

Some people complained about headaches and fatigue, which appeared to be the most common side effects, while others have said that they felt nothing after the shot. These cases ranged between males and females, people of ages 20 – 70, and from a variety of ethnic groups. Of these, there were seniors who didn’t feel any side effects, while some millennials claimed to have headaches and others were fatigued.

Although some think that one’s immune system was a help to inhibit the side effects, there is no guarantee that that is the case. Right now, there is no rhyme or reason why some humans are affected and others not. Additionally, for those that were affected, they tended to feel better after 24 hours.

#6. Who Should Not Get the Moderna Vaccine for COVID-19?

You should not get the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 if you;

- - Developed a severe allergic reaction after receiving the first dose of the vaccine,
  - Are allergic to any of the ingredients of the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19.

Key Takeaways

The Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 is the second vaccine that has been authorized for emergency use by the FDA. So far, there is no evidence about the safety of the drug among children under the age of 18. However, trials for children aged 12 and above have started.

While pregnant and lactating women were not actively involved in the trials, the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 does not appear to cause any serious risks for pregnant and lactating women. However, it’s best to discuss your health conditions with your primary caregiver before getting the shot.

Understanding the Battle Against Free Radicals in COVID Patients

What Happens When Foreign Agents Enter Your Body?

A virus infiltrates healthy cells, then makes copies of those infected cells and distributes them throughout your body. The coronavirus is no exception, but in this case, these bad cells concentrate mostly in and around your lungs; hence, the virus is considered a respiratory illness that is spread via droplets (coughs or sneezes) from an infected person to a non-infected person.

COVID and Other Respiratory Viruses

Most people who have died from COVID experienced respiratory complications that led subsequently to lung failure or cardiac arrest.

In most respiratory infections, a person’s lungs (as well as many other parts of the body) are damaged due to free radicals (atoms with missing electrons) released into the thoracic cavity, inflaming the lungs and creating oxidative stress. And since SARS-CoV-2, SARS and the influenza viruses have a similar structure, it is reasonable to assume that the mechanism that sets them off (medically called pathogenic mechanism) may be the common denominator of them all.

This means that COVID patients who develop lung problems were found to be attacked by the free radicals, the same as those that are found in the SARs viruses. But despite the obvious link, there hasn’t been much discussion or research on the subject. Moreover, all the current preventive measures and treatment protocols circulating worldwide fail to mention or tackle the virus-induced free radicals.

Only one major study has been conducted on the issue of free radicals in COVID patients by Professor Jun Wu, in which he has examined their role such as superoxide, hydroxyl radicals, nitric oxide (NO), and peroxynitrite in organ failure, cell death and other complications in COVID patients. To help you understand the damage caused by these compounds and how that ties with oxidative stress, we have provided an analysis of the study mentioned above.

The Free Radical Storm in COVID

The coronavirus is mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines, (small secreted proteins that have a specific effect on the communication between cells) which trigger an immune response in the body and stimulate the generation of free radicals. In simple terms, they are the proteins that make the SARS-CoV-2 release an inflammatory cytokines storm in the thoracic cavity, swelling up the lung tissues. This inflammation activates a hyperimmune response in the body, signaling immune cells to reach the site.

Stages in COVID and Relevant Treatments

Study shows that the coronavirus infection progresses in three stages. In the first one, the virus attacks the body. In the next phase, a chain reaction from the virus leads to the release of toxic free radicals such as nitric oxide. And once the destructive compounds are free in the body, they react with healthy cells, creating oxidative stress in the lungs.

What is oxidative stress?

Oxidative Stress Illustration

By the time COVID patients are hospitalized, their infection has already progressed to level 2 or 3, which means they have harmful radicals running in their system. During the said stage, administering antiviral drugs isn’t going to make much difference. Instead, medical experts should tackle the real culprit responsible for the respiratory deficits; free radicals. And the way to do that is by inducing antioxidants and potent free radical scavengers to eliminate the destructive compounds.

Tackling Free Radicals and The Damage Caused

Superoxide dismutase or SOD is an antioxidant that has been reported to tackle harmful free radicals during scientific research in lab rats. But unfortunately, SOD for clinical use isn’t available currently; therefore, it cannot be administered to people facing lung damage due to free radicals. That said, other compounds can be used in place of SOD that mimic the chemical composition and pathways of Superoxide dismutase.

Giving Antioxidants

Natural antioxidants can also be administered to COVID patients suffering from complications. Vitamin C and E are known to be incredibly effective antioxidants and free radical scavengers. Those could be used to suppress the damage caused by nitric oxide and superoxide. Studies have shown that vitamin C significantly reduces symptoms of the common cold when given orally to patients.

COVID and the common cold are vastly different from one another in the severity of symptoms and the scale of free radicals produced, so naturally, the vitamin C dosage that has shown to be efficacious in the case of the common cold will not be enough for people suffering from the coronavirus. Plus, the short lifespan of vitamin C in the bloodstream means a small amount cannot be sufficient for tackling the damage caused by free radicals in the body. That said, significantly large doses of vitamin C, introduced into the body intravenously, can work as a therapy for radical damage to the lungs in COVID patients.

Natural Defense Mechanism in the Body

Nrf2 is a natural antioxidative agent in the body that can fight destructive compounds. However, since its amount decreases with age, older patients cannot use their natural mechanism to minimize and tackle the impact of free radicals in the body. For elderly patients, Nrf2 activators should be injected into the body to revive the body’s natural fighting mechanism. Aside from that, large doses of antioxidants, such as zinc, should be given. Zinc is a potent antioxidant and a cofactor in SOD; administering it into COVID patients as combination therapy with other antioxidative compounds can help with the oxidative stress and damage caused by free radicals.

Final Thoughts

Although there hasn’t been enough research on antioxidants as a treatment for COVID, the little scientific evidence available suggests that it can work. Let’s see when the medical experts start to think in that direction.

Your COVID Vaccine Questions Answered!

Man holding needle — Photo by RF._.studio from Pexels

Are you ready to take the COVID-19 vaccine or have you been vaccinated already? And if you are not going to get the shot, why not? And if not, maybe we can convince you otherwise!

Last year we discussed the flu and how to stay safe. Now we have the COVID-19 virus, but we are making heavy strides in containing it.

The CDC recently reduced the age to 12, so now over 90% of the population in the United States is eligible for their vaccine shot and on May 13, the president announced that masks will not be required for all those who have been vaccinated, so we are definitely moving in the right direction.

According to a survey carried out in February 2021, 69% of Americans were either already vaccinated or were planning to get vaccinated. This percentage has increased compared to only 60% of Americans who wanted to get the vaccine late last year. Still, 30% of the respondents say that they won’t get the vaccine.

Man unsure about taking the vaccine — Should I or shouldn’t I?

Aside from children below 12 years of age, the other remaining holdouts are people who are just not comfortable with getting the shot. Whether it be that they have a fear of potential side effects, religious reasons or that they just don’t have trust in the pharmaceutical companies, the government or both, they refuse to take the drug.

To clear the air and any misconceptions, we’re going to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about the COVID vaccines.

How Do the Vaccines Work?

Both Pfizer and the Moderna drugs refer to a new type of biotechnology known as mRNA; that is, it teaches our cells to make proteins that fight off the virus. Unlike several other types of vaccines that generate an immune system response by injecting a weakened form of a virus into the body, the mRNA vaccine teaches the cells to generate an immune response independently. It performs this function by sending instructions to part of the spike protein found on the surface of the virus (those orangy intrusions seen in the electron microscope images). Once these instructions are ‘read’ and activated, the immune system will go after them to destroy them.

Which are the Most Promising COVID Vaccines?

Here is a list of the most common COVID vaccines being used around the globe.

Pfizer-BioNTech

Pfizer And Biontech Vaccine Against Covid-19. Glass Medical Vial According to an independent analysis published in November 2020, Pfizer-BioNTech announced 95% effectiveness of their BNT162b2 vaccine.

This vaccine claims to be 90% effective in the “real-world”; that is, in those outside the clinical trial. It is a two-injection vaccine for both young and old people. While it is still unclear as to how long this vaccine will provide you immunity, research suggests that it can last for a year or longer.

Moderna

American Moderna Covid-19 vaccine vials on a lab desk. Chemical glassware and test tubes for pharmacy development. Moderna tests inoculation against coronavirus.

The mRNA-1273 vaccine for COVID is a result of collaboration between Moderna and the NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases). According to the phase-III trial conducted on over 30,000 volunteers, this vaccine has been deemed as 94% effective. In real-world conditions, the vaccine claims to be 90% effective.

Johnson & Johnson

The Johnson & Johnson (J&J) one-dose vaccine has an overall effectiveness of 66% when it comes to preventing moderate to severe COVID cases as shown by its phase-III clinical trials. Even though the FDA authorized the vaccine in February 2021, they had to put a pause on them in April 2020 due to blood clot development and low platelet count in some patients. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine now comes with a warning label about the isolated chance of developing blood clots and low platelet count a week or two after being vaccinated.

AstraZeneca

Like most of the other vaccines, the AZD1222 vaccine uses the coronavirus S protein gene to stimulate the immune system. The AstraZeneca vaccine is 76% effective according to its phase III clinical trial. This vaccine was authorized in the U.K. and a few other countries for emergency use. However, just like the J&J vaccine, AstraZeneca also caused blood clots within two weeks of use. There were about 222 cases reported out of 34 million people vaccinated across Europe and the U.K, some of which have proven to be fatal.

Some other COVID vaccines that are also rolling out are Sputnik V and Sinopharm. One of the much-awaited vaccines that might be launched by the end of this year is going to be a result of collaboration between two of the biggest vaccine giants, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Sanofi.

Which Vaccine is the Best?

If you ask any expert, there’s one thing they will say: the best vaccine is the one that is available to you. If you are leaning to get the vaccine and are eligible for it, then get the one that’s being given to you. All the vaccines are effective; you can’t make any discernment from one to another.

However, since more information comes to light every day, it becomes easier to make a decision. Experts also claim that it is pointless to weigh the efficacy rates of the clinical trials to decide which vaccine to get. If you’re still unsure about which vaccine to get, it’s best to choose one that hasn’t shown any severe side effects, such as blood clotting.

Are the Vaccines Safe?

Vaccine Research lab — Photo by Trnava University on Unsplash

All the vaccines approved in the U.S. undergo stringent safety testing procedures. The CDC also continues to collect and collate any data they can find on the side effects that the vaccine may cause over time.

Almost every vaccine has minor side effects, such as fever, fatigue, sore arm, nausea, chills, and body aches. These symptoms are especially prominent after the second dose. You must remember that this is a good sign. It is an indicator that your immune system is reacting to the vaccine.

The reason that the side effects are generally stronger after the second dose is because the vaccine spikes a protein that causes the immune system to react. According to the CDC, 80% of those who reported side effects were women.

There are also some very rare cases in which patients might experience side effects, such as anaphylaxis. While this can be dangerous and life-threatening, it is definitely treatable. According to research by the CDC, 2 to 5 people per million vaccinated have experienced this reaction. Fortunately, there haven’t been any deaths reported.

Happy people at a computer — Photo by Fox from Pexels

So what are you waiting for? Get the shot! You’ll feel better about it and you will be doing a favor for your community, not to mention your contribution will help all of us get back to normal living!

A Comparison of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson’s Vaccines

What is the mRNA Vaccine?

Table with bottle of vaccines — Image by hakan german from Pixabay

First, let us start by defining the mRNA vaccine. It is a new type of disease-killing drug that trains our cells how to make a protein that will trigger our immune system to fight off the virus.

At least 40% of Americans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and there are many more waiting for it. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are currently available in the U.S. and other countries, but there are a few more vaccines that might get authorization for use in the U.S. soon. While you might not get to choose the vaccine that you get for immunization, it is still helpful to know about the different types of vaccines administered in other parts of the world. With this in mind, here is a comparison of the four most prominent vaccines for COVID-19.

Pfizer-BioNTech

The FDA approved the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on December 11, 2020. Being the first authorized vaccine for the coronavirus with an efficacy of 95%, people around the world had high hopes for this mRNA vaccine. While initially there were reservations about the rapid development of an mRNA drug, today, an increasing number of people in the U.S. are willing to get immunization against COVID-19.

The mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 codes the virus’ spike protein. Once injected, the cells trigger the body’s immune system to recognize the invasion of the virus in the body. In the trials, the vaccine demonstrated an efficacy of 95%. However, the vaccine requires specialized storage that can maintain a temperature of around -94 degrees F. Here is a quick overview of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19.

- Type: mRNA vaccine
- Doses: 2 doses, 3 weeks apart
- Emergency Use Authorization: December 11 2020
- Efficacy: Around 95% efficacy

Effectiveness against new variants: Clinical research suggests that the vaccine is quite effective against the new U.K., South African and Latin American variants of the virus.

Moderna

Another mRNA vaccine authorized for emergency use by the FDA is Moderna. Like the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna mRNA vaccine has an efficacy of around 95% and got authorization for emergency use on December 18, 2020. However, unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna vaccine does not require a specialized temperature-controlled environment. Rather it remains stable at 36 to 46 degrees F and can be stored in a standard medical or home use refrigerator for up to 30 days. Moreover, the vaccine can be stored at -4 degrees F for up to six months. Here are some quick facts about the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19.

- Type: mRNA vaccine
- Doses: 2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart
- EUA: December 18 2020
- Efficacy: Around 95%

AstraZeneca-University of Oxford

The third vaccine that has shown the efficacy of 90% in the clinical trials following the first dose is the AstraZeneca vaccine. The efficacy results were from the trials in the U.K. and Brazil. The two doses were administered at least one month apart. However, after the administration of the second dose, there was a decreased efficacy of 62%. The combined effect of the vaccine is 70%. Moreover, it can be stored at 36-46 degrees F for at least six months and does not require a specialized storage facility.

But unlike Moderna and Pfizer BioNtech, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is not an mRNA vaccine. Rather, it is an adenovirus-based vaccine that deploys a replication-deficient viral vector based on a weakened version of the adenovirus, the common cold virus that causes infections among chimpanzees. The vaccine contains the genetic materials of the spike protein. Once the vaccine is administered, the immune system is stimulated to attack the coronavirus.

However, since the very beginning, this vaccine has been a part of several controversies. From the effectiveness of the vaccine to the side effects and halt in the E.U. countries, there are still concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the Oxford-AstraZeneca drug. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine administration is linked to an immune system response in the form of blood clots. As a result, several European countries have put a halt to the distribution of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine. Here are some brief facts about the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

- Type: Adenovirus-based
- Doses: 2 doses, at least 28 days apart
- EUA Date: Not approved for use in the U.S. yet
- Efficacy: Around 70% (as of now)

Johnson & Johnson

The fourth on the list is the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which is the only single-dose vaccine on the market. Like the Oxford-AstraZeneca drug, the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is also adenovirus-based with an effectiveness of around 66%. It involves the use of an inactivated common cold virus. During the trials, a single dose brought about a robust immune response and was generally well-tolerated.

However, the administration of the vaccine is associated with a “rare and severe” type of side effect that clots blood. The blood clots are cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) that occurs along with another medical condition with low levels of platelets. The side effects are observed among women within six to 13 days after receiving the injection. While the FDA recommended a halt on the use of this vaccine, the pause was lifted on April 23 and the distribution was resumed.

Type: Adenovirus-based
Doses: Single-dose vaccine
EUA: February 27 2021
Efficacy: Around 66%Conclusion

Man getting injection With these four vaccines for COVID-19 and many others that the world is developing, we are indeed a step closer to bringing this pandemic to an end. But it’s still a long way to go. Till then, continue to follow the COVID-19 safety protocols and stay safe!

Potential Side-Effects of Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine

COVID-19-Vaccine-Injection1 — Photo by FreePik

First it was the Astra-Zenica vaccine that was causing trouble. Now it is the Johnson & Johnson drug that is causing a stir.

Back in February, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. The primary intent was to control the spread of the COVID-19 disease. With the EUA, the J&J vaccine was distributed throughout the U.S. for use among individuals of age 18 and above.

However, on April 14, 2021, a panel of experts gathered to review the potentially fatal side effects of the vaccine that was reported by six individuals. The panel has agreed further to evaluate the risk and safety of the vaccine. As a result, the CDC and FDA have recommended a temporary pause in administering the J&J vaccine for COVID-19.

Let’s take a closer look at the side effects and what to do if you have already received the J&J vaccine.

Like any other drug, there are several side effects associated with the administration of the J&J vaccine. The common side effects can be categorized as local side effects and systemic side effects.

The Local Side Effects

Local side effects refer to the soreness and pain at the site of the injection. It is common for people who received the vaccine to experience pain, redness and swelling at the injection site. However, with the J&J vaccine, the local side effects were experienced two days after the vaccination. Other side effects, including pain and redness, lasted for two days on average. However, the swelling continued for another day or two.

It is interesting to note that the onset and duration of local side effects varied greatly among people. In a few cases (less than 3% of the individuals who received the vaccine), the local side effects continued for more than a week. Moreover, less than 1% of people who received the vaccine experienced severe pain at the injection site.

The local side effects were more common among younger adults between the ages of 18 and 59 as compared to individuals aged 60 and above.

Systemic Side Effects

The other category of side effects experienced by the recipient of the vaccine includes headache and flu-like symptoms, which occurred in more than half of the people who received the vaccine (around 55%). Some of the most commonly reported systemic symptoms include headache, muscle pain, fatigue. A smaller percentage of recipients of the vaccine also experienced nausea and fever.

On average, the onset of side effects was observed two days after the vaccination, with symptoms such as fatigue, headache, and muscle ache lasting for another two days. However, other symptoms such as nausea and fever on average subsided within a day.

Similar to the local side effects, the onset and duration of systemic side effects varied across the population. However, less than 2 percent of people who received the vaccine continued to experience the systemic side effects for more than a week. Severe systemic side effects (including fatigue, muscle pain and fever) were reported in less than 2% of the individuals who received the vaccine.

The systemic side effects were more profound among younger adults compared to older individuals. The only exception is nausea, which was experienced by all individuals who received the vaccine regardless of age.

The Concern

The FDA and CDC have recommended a temporary pause in administering the J&J COVID-19 vaccine subsequent to the reports of a rare yet severe side effect reported in six recipients.

On April 13, 2021, the CDC and FDA called for a halt in the use of the vaccine. All the severe side effects involved women between the ages of 18 and 48, and the side effect occurred between the 6th and the 13th day after receiving the dose. One of the women who experienced this severe side effect died while the other had been hospitalized.

This potentially severe side effect resulting from the vaccine administration is the clotting of blood in the veins that drain blood from the brain. Medically, the condition is known as central venous sinus thrombosis, which can also occur without administering the vaccine and affects around five people in a million every year. However, the vaccine-associated side effect results from an immune system response that causes a clotting disorder by activating platelets that form a clot. The same side effect has been observed with the administration of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. However, it is important to note that this potentially fatal side effect is not a concern with Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for COVID-19.

The Statistics

If you look at the numbers, so far, around 7 million (6.8 million to be exact) doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered throughout the country. Moreover, six cases of severe side effects have been reported. This means that around 1 in a million individuals is likely to experience the severe side effects of the vaccine. On the other hand, the medical condition caused by the vaccine administration affects around five people in a million every year.

What to Do If You Have Received the J&J Vaccine?

Since the CDC and FDA have recommended a temporary pause in the administration of the vaccine, there is a lot of speculation and concern among individuals who have already received it. Thus, the CDC and FDA have recommended that individuals who have received the vaccine within the last three weeks should keep a check on the symptoms. If they develop severe headaches, leg pain, shortness of breath, or abdominal pain, they must immediately contact their healthcare provider.

If diagnosed well in time, this type of blood clot can be treated using blood thinners (anticoagulants). However, the treatment varies on an individual basis and only a registered medical practitioner can prescribe the required treatment.

Fast Food and the Deceptions that Follow It

Fast Food hamburger on a bub — Tasty? Yes. Health? Not really. Photo Unsplash

In our previous article, we discussed the link between processed foods and cancer. In this article, we will concentrate on the fast food industry and how some of these businesses use deceptive techniques to lure the consumers in.

Processed and fast foods are a staple dietary items in contemporary eating habits and lifestyles. They have been internalized so seamlessly that people don’t stop devouring them even after knowing the unhealthy consequences of their consumption.

Obesity tops the list of health issues faced by US citizens and the $200 billion fast-food industry plays a significant role in aggravating this problem. Therefore, these unhealthy food options, full of calories and bad nutrients can be easily quoted as ‘junk food’.

Apart from dealing with unhealthy meals, some processed and fast food establishments also use certain unscrupulous advertising techniques to retain their customers and to sustain their revenue stream. Let’s have a closer look at what these deceptions are.

Fat-Free Meals are Healthy Options

After the excessive demonizing of fat as an unhealthy nutrient, people have become quite careful in its consumption. Fast foods are traditionally known for their rich fat content. This new trend of avoiding fats has forced the industry to come up with the option of fat-free meal options.

These options indeed have less fat content, but there is another side to this. The extravaganza of tastes present in processed and fast foods is attributed to the presence of a high amount of fats. Meals with low fat don’t taste as good as typical fat-enriched items. Therefore, to compensate for the taste of low-fat meals, some synthetic additives are added to them.

These substitutes are worse in their health implications as compared to the original fats. So, it’s only a fallacy that low-fat fast food options are any healthy.

No Trans Fat is Included in the Meal

Trans fat is considered one of the unhealthiest nutrients present in any food item and junk meals contain a considerable amount of them. As people have come to know about the effects of trans fats on cholesterol levels and the cardiovascular system, the fast-food industry has reduced its amount in their products.

However, they can’t exclude them entirely because it is a necessary constituent of processed foods. As per food regulations, they are allowed to call any food product free of trans fats if it contains less than 0.5 grams per packaging. So, even if the label of any processed food product reads ‘Trans fat-free’, you can’t be sure whether it’s entirely free of this bad fat.

Many people now know the bad effects of trans fats, but they don’t know the term ‘hydrogenated’ is also used in place of ‘trans’. The processed food industry cleverly exploits this lack of awareness by replacing the word ‘trans’ with ‘hydrogenated’ on the labels.

Processed and Fast Foods Made of Whole Grains are Healthy

Man holding hamburger in bun — Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Whole grains are healthy as compared to refined variants. So, fast foods made of whole-grain should also be healthy or less harmful than the regular junk meals made of refined grains? The answer to this question should be in the affirmative, but unfortunately, that’s not the case.

To maintain the consistency and texture of their products, processed and fast food ventures use the whole grain which is gone through ultra grinding and crushing. Even though this whole grain flour contains all the healthy constitutes (kernel, husk), but it has been ground in such fine powder that it loses its characteristic of late digestion.

Therefore, the whole grain fast food options are not very dissimilar to their fine grain counterparts because they are equally capable of raising the blood glucose level.

Gluten-free Fast Foods Have Similar Benefits

Going gluten-free is in fashion these days. One research shows that around 1.5 percent of the US population has adopted a gluten-free diet and nearly 33 percent among them don’t have wheat intolerance or celiac disease.

Gluten-free diets are healthy and there is no harm in adopting them even if you don’t have any digestive issues. However, gluten-free fast foods are altogether a different thing. Wheat in such fast food products is replaced by different finely processed starches of corn and potatoes with a high glycemic index. Moreover, gluten-free fast food options are way expensive than traditional options.

With gluten-free fast foods, you might not be munching wheat anymore, but you will be consuming excessive glucose content in the form of starch which is unhealthy.

Distortion of Caloric Factsheet

With the prevalence of modern diet plans, people have become more conscious of their daily calorie count. The junk and processed food industry is also aware of this. Therefore, they have made the business of the caloric value of their products pretty complex for consumers to understand. Sometimes they mention caloric value and sugar content in the product separately and sometimes merge the multiple servings in one product and only mention the calorie count of only one serving on the label.

All these tricks are played to mislead people about the real caloric value of their food products which usually reach unhealthy proportions.

Inclusion of Small Amounts of Beneficial Ingredients Makes Their Products Healthy

If you have ever noticed, ads of processed and fast foods often promote the healthy ingredients in their products, which is by comparison to the entire meal is minimal. This gimmick is done to make people think that they are eating something healthy. In reality, the inclusion of such a negligible amount of healthy ingredients doesn’t offset the bad effects of a plethora of inferior ingredients that are included in their products.

Concealing Unhealthy Ingredients

The fast-food industry quite often uses technical terms for the ingredients that might be unhealthy for human consumption. For instance, monosodium glutamate, a sodium salt, might be labeled as E621 on the packaging of processed foods. Similarly, sugar is mentioned with alternate terms such as corn syrup or fructose syrup.

Sometimes, it’s intentionally done to trick people into believing that the food they are consuming is free of any detrimental ingredient.

Fast foods and processed dietary options are rarely healthy. Therefore, over-relying on such products is not a sensible thing to do. Try to maintain your diets as organic as possible to remain healthy.

Update on COVID Vaccine Rollout

COVID infections and deaths are decreasing, but we are not out of the woods yet; however,there is promising news. The vaccines are here!

After spending months in lockdown, scared of getting infected by the novel coronavirus, the world is beginning to open up, thanks to the mass immunizations in process. Pharmaceutical companies were working hard to develop a COVID vaccine for a while.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, we now have a handful of effective antiviral serums on the market. Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are some of the famous and perhaps better credible names in the industry that have released COVID vaccines and are yielding results.

COVID Vaccine Rollout Worldwide

With efficacious vaccines now available, governments have started mass immunization drives to vaccinate as many people as possible. CNN has reported that 171 countries and nations in the world have administered about 825 million COVID vaccine doses so far. Naturally, not all nations are rolling out vaccines at the same pace, which means some countries will lead to nationwide immunity against COVID sooner than others, such as Gibraltar, Israel, UK, UAE and of course, the United States, where the vaccines have been created.

As per Our World Data COVID vaccine tracker, Israel is currently the country with the highest percentage, 61.68% of their population have been fully vaccinated. Data shows that countries with a lower population are immunizing their people more swiftly than those with a higher population and understandably so. This means despite vaccinating millions of people in a day, states such as the USA and the UK remain among the top countries but are not at the very top of the list of nations with the highest vaccination rate.

To understand the difference in vaccination stats between the US, UK, and the rest of the world, here is a deeper look into the vaccination program of the two countries.

The United States of America

Two bottles of vaccine and a syringe over a black background — Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels

America has reportedly administered 122.3 million first doses of COVID-19 vaccines and 75.3 million second shots so far, mostly from Pfizer and Moderna. Johnson & Johnson vaccine was ordered for distribution to be stopped after some people still became infected with the virus.

At present, the country is rolling out approximately 4 million vaccines a day, surpassing the 2.5 million mark of the preceding months. On Saturday, April 3, the Center for Disease Control reported that the country’s vaccination program had administered 4 million vaccines in the past 24 hours, setting a new record and bringing the weekly average to more than 3 million.

The COVID data director, Dr. Cyprus Shahpar, recorded his response to the monumental news via a tweet the same day, saying “Wow, a record reporting day!! +4.08M doses reported administered over the total yesterday,”

President Joe Biden has promised to deliver 200 million vaccines by his 100th day at office- a goal many believe is attainable. Previously, POTUS had pledged to have 100 million vaccines rolled out by his 100th day at the office, but that mark was reached pretty early in the vaccination drive. The 100th-day-100-million-vaccine challenge was deemed not ambitious enough by many of Biden’s critics. It seems that the 200-million-shots promise is better received than the previous one.

The United States of America is not the only region in the world that’s doing everything to heighten its defenses against the fast-spreading coronavirus; the UK is also working hard to vaccinate as many people as possible to attain some degree of pre-pandemic normalcy.

The United Kingdom

According to a BBC report, close to 32 million people have been vaccinated so far as part of the largest immunization program the kingdom ever conducted.

The government has planned to give inoculation shots to 32 million people based on their placement in priority groups by April 15. The vaccination drive that began in mid-February first catered to four priority groups; people aged 70 and over, care home residents, healthcare workers, and people required to shield. Now that said classes of people have received at least the first shot of the vaccine; the government has asked people over the age of 50 to book their vaccination appointments.

The next phase is supposed to give antiviral shots to people over 40, who make up about 21 million of the total population. That is, once the current round of immunizations is complete, the next will begin in which those aged 40 and above will be vaccinated- approximately 21 million adults.

Currently, the UK is rolling out 87000 vaccines a day- which is less than the daily inoculations average of March: 500000. The drop in the daily vaccinations is attributed to the 2-shot drive that has now begun in the country. In February and March, the immunization program primarily gave out the first dose of the COVID vaccine. But now, those who have already gotten their first shot have to get their second, which means that the vaccination resources have to be divided, leading to a lowered daily average of vaccine rollout.

NHS’s stats show that more than 32 million people have gotten at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while more than 7 million have received the second jab as well.

The current status of daily vaccine administrations in the UK shows that 317,000 people are getting their 2nd vaccine shot daily.

There have been reports of a dip in the supply of COVID-19 vaccine in the country, which created a bit of a stir at first. However, the government authorities are hopeful that despite the drop in supply, the UK is still vaccinating a significant number of adults every day. And even with the current rate of inoculations, the NHS is positive that it will be able to give out the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to everyone over the age of 50 by the end of April and all adults by the end of July.

The vaccination process is supposed to pick up pace over the coming weeks as Moderna is said to join the other serums, particularly in Wales and Scotland. Reports say that those under 30 will be given Moderna or Pfizer. As for AstraZeneca, there are reports of people developing blood clots, so UK’s health minister, Hon Matt Hancock, believes that Moderna and Pfizer together have enough resources to vaccinate the 8.5 million adults in the kingdom.

The UK’s progress in dispensing vaccines throughout the country has been remarkable, making it one of those states that have the highest vaccination rates globally.

Ending Note

With J&J and AstraZeneca fairly out of the picture and just Mordana and Pzifer becoming the only major distributors of the vaccine, how soon the entire world will be coronavirus-free is hard to predict, but the end to this dreadful pandemic seems in sight now. Let’s hope we don’t face any more hiccups in our battle against the coronavirus.

Why Biometric Authentication is a Must!

Illustration of biometric technology We might not be at the Terminator stage, but computers are becoming more interactive with humans every day. Our body parts have become an essential component when working with machines. Putting aside the creation of androids to look and act like us, there are also technologies that can look back at us and equate what they are looking at to a specific human being.

With that said, there is no doubt that the trend of new technologies materializing this early part of our 21st century is sure making a mark on our lifestyles. Video cameras, webcams, dash cams and cell phones are all over the place and whether you call it big brother is watching or you take the opposite approach that this technology is needed to help deter crime, it is here and is going nowhere but up.

This technology has provided the world with the ability to view situations we would have never have known about before and that is most apparent in the political and social environments. We are not here to take sides, nor is this what this article is about, but we couldn’t continue this discussion without at least mentioning how our lifestyles have been affected, for better or for worse.

Let’s Take a Look at One Specific Aspect of One Growing Technology – Biometrics Biotechnology

In a broad sense, biotechnology is the act of using technology to solve problems. In this case, we are looking at biometrics, which is a means by which machines solve a problem by identifying specific human beings.

What are the Uses of Biometrics?

Close up photo of a hazel eye — Photo by Jordan Whitfield on Unsplash

Primarily, it is used to identify individuals, as each one of us has unique physical characteristics that are different from everyone else.

Most likely, many of us have seen these biotechnologies in action, probably from sci-fi movies, but this is not science fiction anymore. It is real! Let’s take a look at what biometrics can do!

There are a number of areas where biometrics comes into play.

- - Fingers
  - Face
  - Eyes
  - Palms

And this technology is used both in law enforcement to locate individuals who are wanted for criminal activity (facial recognition) and for people to secure devices, such as locks, laptops and mobile phones, to name a few.

The Apple iPhone is a perfect example of the usage of biotech. The iPhone 10 uses fingerprint detection to unlock it and the iPhone 11 uses facial recognition. You don’t even have to lift a finger (pardon the pun) but just hold it in front of you and viola – you have unlocked your device!

High-Tech Security is the Criminal’s Worst Nightmare

The use of video surveillance in everyday life has transformed the modus operandi of individual security measures. From iPhones capturing an unscrupulous person breaking the law to professional home security to high-tech radiation detection devices in Times Square, security has taken a giant leap forward and there is no doubt that biotechnology has grown along with it.

Fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, iris and voice recognition are all part of this security trend. Before we move on to discuss the benefits of these biometric measures, it is important to briefly define what entails biometric technology.

Biometrics: The Identification of Unique Physical Traits

Biometric Facial Recognation — An example of a biometric security system that analyzes human face to verify personal data. Bigstock Photo

Biometric technology has been developed on the concept that every individual is unique, due to several inherent physical and anatomical features. This means unique information can be used to identify people for access from everything from door entries to cell phones to highly secure devices, even top-secret computer systems.

Let’s have a look at some of these noteworthy benefits and the verification process.

Biometrics has Entirely Changed the Look of Databases

Gone are the days when governments had to maintain massive physical records to register their citizens. Now, with the help of biometric authentication, every citizen can be registered against his or her unique physical identity.

It is also worth mentioning that biometric databases don’t require high-end technological expertise. The technology providing fingerprint recognition has become really inexpensive in the last decade or so. This is the reason why even underdeveloped jurisdictions have managed to adopt biometrics for maintaining their citizen records.

Biometrics for Elections

The same databases are also being used in many countries to ensure transparent elections. There are minimal chances of discrepancies in biometric voting. Besides that, biometric identification has also helped several businesses in streamlining their client databases, but if that would happen in the US, there would be so much political fallout, especially now with the Russian interference issue, it would take another century before it would be implemented. By that time new technologies would have materialized.

Biometrics Makes Security Measures Fairly Foolproof

From managing the financial confidential information to establishing the security of a premise, biometric authentication has been proven to be a game-changer. For criminal elements, it’s almost impossible to hack the majority of biometric authentication processes. Additionally, its identity is non-transferable i.e. one can’t reassign their physical trait to someone else for any malevolent use. Few simple examples can demonstrate the effectiveness and success of biometrics security measures.

If an entry in any premises is subjected to fingerprint or iris authentication, instead of traditional entry passes and cards, then it is nearly impossible to get access to those secured parameters. People looking to get unauthorized access can temper and replicate entry cards and passes, but they can’t reproduce the unique physical and anatomical features of someone (barring sci-fi movies of course).

Instead of passwords and PIN access to use banking facilities, many financial institutes have implemented biometric authentications. For example, ATM skimming and hacking are causing losses of millions of dollars to consumers and banks.

For that reason, many banks have incorporated cardless ATM transactions in which users can withdraw money after verifying themselves through biometrics identifications in place of entering PINs and using banking cards that are prone to tampering.

Biometric Authentications are Accurate and Convenient

Biometric tools are a great way to instill accuracy in the verification processes. For every person, there is a single unique biometric feature for authentication, and it is inherently accurate i.e. one would have a definite pattern on their thumbs and finger marks. The machine would only verify any given person if it can accurately match his pattern with the existing database. One can say that biometrics can protect the accuracy of any authentication process from human error.

Moreover, biometric authentication has also brought a whole lot of convenience for people on both ends of the process. For instance, one doesn’t require carrying cards, remembering passwords and PINs to get access to their bank accounts. If you are a part of the biometric authentication process, you are literally walking with your login credentials all the time.

Similarly, databases composed of biometric information enable companies to use a single piece of concrete information to verify the identity of any individual. In addition, it is easier for companies to train their staff to look over the process of fingerprint authentication, retinal scanning or voice recognition.

Biometrics is Adaptable and Scalable Like No Other

From a small storefront that offers cellular connections to large conglomerates, regardless of the size of operations, use of biometric technology can be witnessed in every field of life. It has become only possible because of the scalable and adaptable nature of the technology. Every business can implement biometric security measures to the level they want their security to be beefed up.

Biometric Technology Offers Good Return on Investment

Security maintenance that follows traditional protocols eats up a sizable amount of resources. Therefore, it is always a huge concern for organizations. Biometric authentication and verification, on the other hand, offer comparatively good ROI to organizations. With a single device and software, they can set up a really good security blanket for their operations. Stationing a security guard to allow admission to a restricted premise is a recurrent expenditure for businesses. On the other hand, the same task can be carried out with a simple fingerprint scanner, which is a one-time investment.

Biometric Processes are Time Efficient

Biometric security measures also offer a significant level of time conservation. Within a fraction of a second, the identity of any individual can be confirmed through biometrics. Establishing swift entrance practice will eventually add up to accumulative work hours.