ScienceDaily: Tequila Raw Ingredient Being Developed Into Drug-carrier That Targets Colon Diseases
Compounds derived from the blue agave, a fruit used to make tequila, shows promise in early laboratory studies as a natural, more effective way to deliver drugs to the colon than conventional drug-carriers, according to chemists at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico.
Now that’s a drug delivery system I can support!
Dispelling The Top 10 Nutrition Myths
Don’t drink alcohol. Take vitamins. Avoid eating eggs. We’ve heard these pieces of nutritional advice for years - but are they accurate?Not necessarily, say two exercise physiologists presenting at the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) 11th-annual Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition in Dallas, Texas. Wendy Repovich, Ph.D., FACSM, and Janet Peterson, Dr.P.H., FACSM, set out to debunk the “Top 10 Nutrition Myths.”
It’s worth a quick read.
This profile says “no.”
Policosanol: Side Effects and Cholesterol » iFitandHealthy.com
Policosanol’s Side Effects: No side effects are known at this time.Cons: Those with dangerously high cholesterol levels might use it instead of an effective treatment.
Those seeking an effective over-the-counter treatment may have to look further (though we hear diet and exercise remains popular among some sects.)
Pomegranate Juice May Be Good For The Prostate And Heart, Reports The Harvard Men’s Health Watch
Two recent studies suggest that pomegranate juice may help fight prostate cancer. In one study, scientists grew cells from highly aggressive cases of human prostate cancer in tissue cultures. Pomegranate fruit extracts slowed the growth of the cultured cancer cells and promoted cell death. The researchers then implanted the cancer cells in mice. A group of mice that received water laced with pomegranate juice developed significantly smaller tumors than the untreated animals. In a preliminary study of men with prostate cancer, pomegranate juice lengthened patients’ PSA doubling time (the longer the doubling time, the slower the tumor is growing) from 15 months before treatment to 54 months on the juice.Preliminary results in test tubes, animals, and humans suggest that pomegranates may also have beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease. Studies show that pomegranate juice can protect LDL (bad) cholesterol from oxidative damage. The juice has also been shown to slow the progression of plaques in mice with atherosclerosis. Results from two small clinical studies are even more intriguing, showing that carotid artery thickness decreased and cardiac blood flow improved in pomegranate juice drinkers. However, preliminary research also suggests that pomegranate juice may interact with certain medications, much like grapefruit juice does.
I have been alternating between pomegranate and grapefruit juice with breakfast.
Aspirin May Help You Live Longer
A study found women who took aspirin regularly had a 25% lower risk of death from all causes, not just heart problems. The new findings actually contradict prior research, so experts say women should not take aspirin without talking to their doctor first.
Don’t you just love contradictory studies? At least you shouldn’t have to worry if you’re taking aspirin for the occasional headache.
ScienceDaily: Organic Is Healthier: Kiwis Prove That Green Is Good
In one of the most comprehensive and definitive studies of its kind to date, a team of researchers at the University of California, Davis have proven that organically grown kiwifruit contain more health-promoting factors than those grown under conventional conditions.
It’s interesting, because just today my local store had only organic kiwis, and I was wondering whether it really made a difference. I’m glad I bought them (and ate one.)
ScienceDaily: Blueberries Contain Chemical That May Help Prevent Colon Cancer
A compound found in blueberries shows promise of preventing colon cancer in animals, according to a joint study by scientists at Rutgers University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The compound, pterostilbene, is a potent antioxidant that could be developed into a pill with the potential for fewer side effects than some commercial drugs that are currently used to prevent the disease. Colon cancer is considered the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, the researchers say.
Who needs a pill? I love blueberries.
Dark Chocolate May Lower Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease
If you eat some dark chocolate now-and-again you could well be lowering your chances of developing cardiovascular disease, say researchers at Yale Prevention Research Center, Connecticut, USA. It seems dark chocolate contains flavonoids which boost the function of endothelial cells in the lining of blood vessels.
The study showed improvement in a fairly short time, though with high intake of chocolate - 8 oz per day. No sugar outperformed sugary chocolate, but both beat a placebo.
Family meal seen as way to reconnect families | Health | Reuters
A national study of kids between 3 and 12 found that more meal time at home was the single strongest predictor of better achievement scores, ahead of time studying or in church.Researchers found a strong link between eating at least five dinners a week with a parent and children who are less likely to use drugs and develop good eating habits.
I must admit, my family has come to consider it a “family meal” if we eat simultaneously in different parts of the house.
Refrigerator Raid: Cut Your Health Care Bill
According to a recent AP News article, health care costs will only continue to climb during the next decade. In fact, the article reports that ten years from now, $1 of every $5 spent will be for health related expenses.
However, there is one simple way to help keep your health care costs low: stay healthy for as long as possible.
And to do that, Refrigerator Raider suggests, you should:
Those sound like solid tips whether they end up reducing the healthcare bill or not.
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