Did You Know That Taking Probiotics Can Lower Cholesterol?
The great thing about taking nutritional supplements is they often have “side benefits” (rather than scary “side effects”). Probiotics, those capsules or liquids or fermented foods we consume to populate our digestive tract with friendly bacteria, are already in use all over the world for treating and preventing diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, inflammation of the colon, urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast infections, respiratory infections, skin disorders. New research indicates that probiotics might have an additional benefit: lowering elevated cholesterol levels. Recently 114 adults…
Berries Can Affect Your Blood Pressure
The pigments in plants are sometimes called Vitamin P! Plants that contain these pigments include blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, and other plants like cabbage, onions, parsley, pinto beans, and tomatoes. Pigments vary in color, they can be yellow, orange, red, and blue. These pigments are also classed as flavonoids, and they have many benefits. Flavonoids enhance the effect of vitamin C – hence the combinations of vitamin C with bioflavonoids in many supplements. Flavonoids can also protect cells from free radicals or oxygen damage…
Vitamin K Associated with Bone Health
A recent study sought to investigate whether vitamin K intake is associated with bone health in elderly men and women. The cross-sectional analysis included 200 elderly people with an average age of 67 years. The participants completed a 137-item food frequency questionnaire and were followed for two years. Researchers analyzed bone health using quantitative ultrasound assessment. It was found that a higher vitamin K intake was associated with superior bone properties. The results also revealed that an increase in dietary vitamin K was significantly related…
Broccoli May Have Anti-Cancer Benefits
A study published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer investigated whether combining broccoli powder with air dried broccoli sprouts would enhance the absorption of sulforaphane in humans. Sulforaphanes from broccoli, are reported to be powerful anti-cancer agents. The study included four subjects who consumed four dry cereal and yogurt meals supplemented with broccoli sprouts (2 grams), broccoli powder (2 grams), a combination of both or neither.
Vitamin B12 and Alzheimer’s Disease
Vitamin B12 is essential for growth and plays a role in metabolism within cells, especially those of the gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow and nervous tissue. It also lowers homocysteine levels, enhances cognitive performance, and decreases risk of osteoporosis. Vitamin B12 is not found in plants, but it is produced by bacteria in the digestive tract of animals, which explains why animal protein products are the only dietary source of this nutrient.
Cinnamon Effective in Regulating Blood Glucose and Blood Pressure
In Chinese herbalism, cinnamon is one of the oldest remedies. It has been used in traditional treatment for diarrhea, alleviating pain and discomfort of arthritis, menstrual problems, yeast infections, colds, flu, toothache and digestive problems. In more recent times, cinnamon is being researched for its effectiveness in treating diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer.
High Vitamin D Status Decreases Risk of Breast Cancer
Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine” vitamin because it is formed in the body by the action of the sun’s ultraviolet rays on the skin. Decreased vitamin D intake along with not enough sunlight exposure can cause a vitamin D deficiency. Other causes could be inadequate absorption and impaired conversion of vitamin D into its active form. When vitamin D deficiency occurs, bone mineralization is impaired which leads to bone loss. Rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, Crohn’s disease and cancer are associated with vitamin D deficiency.
Astaxanthin Beneficial for Cholesterol Levels
If your health professional says you have hyperlipidemia, this simply means the amount of fat in your blood is higher than it should be. Although high cholesterol is the most famous form of hyperlipidemia, blood fats include triglycerides, phospholipids, and other fatty substances that circulate continuously through the bloodstream.
