Lifelong Immunity: vitamins C, E and probiotics boost immunity

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”

Healthy insight: whole grains – healthy pancreas

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”

Healthy women: nutrients improve women’s reproductive health

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”

Ahead of the curve: early-stage discoveries: EFA oleic acid, ginger, okra/yogurt

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”

Healthy lipids: alpha lipoic acid and oat beta glucan improved lipid profiles

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”

Women’s quality of life: resveratrol and fiber improve life and health during menopause

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”

Brain health: nutrients protect against cognitive decline, improve brain function

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”

Healthy Insight: Beets for teeth

Intense exercise causes dehydration, a temporary decrease in immunity, and an increase in salivary acidity (pH). When athletes add acidic, high-carbohydrate drinks to this mix, high salivary acidity levels raise chances for oral disease. In this study, 11 trained male runners, average age 30, took, in alternating phases, a placebo drink, Powerade®, or nitrate-rich beetContinue reading “Healthy Insight: Beets for teeth”

Kidney: nutrients reduce symptoms in diabetic and chronic kidney disease

Tocotrienols improve kidney function One of the complications of types 1 and 2 diabetes is impaired kidney function. Evidence is mounting that the tocotrienol form of vitamin E has the unique ability to uniformly disperse throughout cells and penetrate saturated fatty layers, making it a highly potent antioxidant. In this study, 59 men and women,Continue reading “Kidney: nutrients reduce symptoms in diabetic and chronic kidney disease”

Recipe: Kiwi Sorbet

While you wait for this quick dessert to freeze, please see page 1 for a new study of people low in vitamin C who boosted vitamin C levels to normal, and boosted their mood, after eating kiwifruit for four weeks. Prep time: 10 minutesFreeze time: 1 hourServes: 4  Ingredients:8 kiwis, peeled and sliced4 tbsp organicContinue reading “Recipe: Kiwi Sorbet”