A study has found an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree may reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
The compound in question is called Pycnogenol, and a scientist from the National Research Institute on Food and Nutrition in Rome found it inhibits the generation of COX-2 and 5-LOX, two naturally occurring mediators associated with inflammatory conditions.
Dr. Raffaella Canali studied volunteers aged 35-50, who took Pycnogenol pills for five consecutive days in the morning before breakfast. Read the rest of this entry »
A new study conducted by Danish scientists has found that vitamin C-deficient babies may be at a higher risk for mental development and memory problems.
A team of researchers from the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Copenhagen showed that guinea pigs with moderate vitamin C deficiency develop 30 percent fewer hippocampal neurons and have significantly worse spatial memory than animals fed a normal diet.
The choice of animals was dictated by the fact that guinea pigs, like human beings, are dependent on getting vitamin C through their diet. Read the rest of this entry »
Those who enjoy exotic spices in their food may find a new health benefit with an ingredient in yellow that may help prevent diseases.
A study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry is looking into nano-sized capsule made with curcumin, an ingredient that makes curry yellow, that could potentially help in fighting colon cancer, psoriasis and Alzheimer’s disease.
It’s been found that curcumin prevents melanoma cell growth by forcing the cells to destroy themselves. In addition to this, curcumin also works as a nutritional supplement for antioxidant effects. Read the rest of this entry »
A new study suggests people who choose plain water to quench their thirst over other beverages have healthier diets.
According to Reuters, the study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who drink water tend to eat a diet higher in fiber and lower in sugar and calorie-dense foods.
According to researchers involved with the study, the findings do not prove that drinking water makes people eat healthier. Rather, it suggests a connection between the two. Read the rest of this entry »
New research suggests flaxseed may help improve cholesterol.
A study appearing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds people who took one tablespoon of whole flaxseed everyday were able to reduce both their total cholesterol and their LDL, or bad, cholesterol levels. Flaxseed oil, in comparison, did not produce the same results.
Women, particularly post-menopausal women, had the greatest reduction in their cholesterol, compared to men and other people who previously had higher cholesterol levels, according to Reuters. Read the rest of this entry »
In the quest to refine youth-preserving natural treatments, scientists have conducted experiments which showed light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a cream based on green tea extract may help smooth facial wrinkles.
Non-invasive phototherapy has been used to treat skin imperfections for decades, but German scientists believe combining it with antioxidant-rich great tea lotion will take the treatment to a new level by eliminating potentially harmful reactive oxygen species produced by light therapy. Read the rest of this entry »
A study has found an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree may reduce inflammation and relieve pain.