Category Archives: Uncategorized

Garcinia cambogia and glucomannan reduce weight, improve body composition In an effort to find effective treatments for overweight and obesity, doctors looked to Southeast Asia for the flowering plant, garcinia cambogia (GC), and a to natural fiber supplement, glucomannan (GNN). This study covered 136 adults aged at least 18, with a body-mass index score greaterContinue reading “Mind & Body: nutrients help control weight, boost quality of life”

Elderberry for cold and flu This review of five studies covered 936 participants, aged five to 70 years, who exhibited cold, flu, and flu-like symptoms, and who took a placebo or any one of several forms of elderberry, including liquid extract, lozenges, and hot beverages, at doses of 175 to 240 mg, up to fiveContinue reading “Breathe! Nutrients reduce colds, flu, and boost lung function”

Vitamins C and E increase immune cell function Could vitamins C and E be the fountain of youth? In this study, doctors took blood samples of several types of immune white blood cells (WBC) in 22 older men and women who took 500 mg of vitamin C with or without 298 IUof vitamin E. DoctorsContinue reading “Lifelong Immunity: vitamins C, E and probiotics boost immunity”

The pancreas gland makes digestive enzymes and hormones that control blood sugar levels. In this study, doctors measured the diets of 55,995 men and women, aged 50 to 64, and followed up for 17.5 years. Overall, when whole grains inthe diet reached 50 grams per day, chances of developing pancreatic cancer decreased by 7 percentContinue reading “Healthy insight: whole grains – healthy pancreas”

Vitamins D, B6, and EGCG reduce fibroids Uterine fibroids (UF) tend to occur during childbearing years, and while they do not increase chances for uterine cancer, they can create discomfort and alter the menstrual cycle. Doctors don’t know what causes UF but suspect hormonal changes play a role. UF contain more estrogen and progesterone receptorsContinue reading “Healthy women: nutrients improve women’s reproductive health”

Good results in the lab can lead to larger human trials. Here are some of the most promising recent findings. EFA oleic acid in MS The essential fatty acid, oleic acid, aids the function of immune regulatory (T-reg) cells impaired by multiple sclerosis (MS). Doctors first exposed T-reg cells to oleic acid, which activated theirContinue reading “Ahead of the curve: early-stage discoveries: EFA oleic acid, ginger, okra/yogurt”

ALA reduced glucose, triglycerides, in gestational diabetes In pregnancy, hormonal changes can raise blood sugar levels and, together with oxidative stress, lead to gestational diabetes. In this study, 60 pregnant women, aged 30 to 32, diagnosed with gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, took a placebo or 100 mg of alpha lipoicContinue reading “Healthy lipids: alpha lipoic acid and oat beta glucan improved lipid profiles”

Resveratrol reduces pain, improves QOL in menopause Doctors think some of the discomforts of menopause come from declining levels of estrogen. In two earlier, shorter studies, resveratrol—a phytoestrogen—improved pain and feelings of well-being in postmenopausal women. In this longer-term third arm of the study, 125 healthy postmenopausal women took a placebo or 75 mg ofContinue reading “Women’s quality of life: resveratrol and fiber improve life and health during menopause”

Vitamins C and E may lower chances for Parkinson’s In Parkinson’s disease (PD), brain-nerve function slowly deteriorates, with a wide range of eventual physical and cognitive symptoms including tremors and memory loss. While there is no apparent single cause, oxidative stress is a common factor. In this study, doctors followed and gathered food questionnaires fromContinue reading “Brain health: nutrients protect against cognitive decline, improve brain function”