Recent data suggest that in the near future, cancer will be the number one cause of death in most parts of the world. Whereas breast, prostate, skin and colon cancer are often featured in the news, cancer of the upper-aerodigestive tract (UADT, i.e. of the oral cavity, the larynx and oesophagus) are less well known. Still, about 180,000 new cases are reported in Europe per year. As the UADT is naturally exposed to everything we eat and drink, the multicenter case-control study ARCAGE addressed the question whether the risk for UADT cancer is affected by our daily diet. The detailed evaluation of dietary habits of more than 4000 subjects revealed: that red meat consumption significantly increased the risk for UADT cancer (especially... [Read more]

For more than 2500 years, wolfberries (Lycium barbarum, or more popularly known as Goji berries) have been used as a natural remedy in many Asian countries, especially for “nourishing the kidney and the liver”. In recent years, beverages containing Goji fruit extracts or juice gained tremendous popularity throughout the world. Although Goji soft drinks were shown to have high antioxidant activity in test tube systems and even animal models, little is about their actual effect on the human antioxidant defense system. When ingested by healthy elderly test subjects (120 ml per day) for 30 days, a standardized Goji fruit juice (GoChi, provided by FreeLife International, USA) has been found to boost the antioxidant defense but at the... [Read more]

How many times have we mentioned it here– chocolates are good for your health. Need more convincing? then grab the book, Chocolate- A Healthy Passion. The book explores the origins of chocolate and its place in culture and traditions all over the world, and its health benefits. Research shows that eating chocolate and natural cocoa may improve vascular health, blood pressure, cognitive health, blood flow, and skin health. According to studies by the USDA, just two tablespoons of natural cocoa have more antioxidant power than 4 cups of green tea, one cup of blueberries or one and a half glasses of red wine. Flavanols—the compounds in chocolate found in the cocoa bean—increase blood flow, providing a protective effect against inflammation... [Read more]

Drats, the month is already halfway through and it is just now that I came across this day-by-day heart healthy tips to lower heart disease risk. That’s 28 ways for the month of February, America’s Heart Health Month, to reduce your risk of having heart disease. Oh well, I suppose, when it comes to health, it’s never too late to start taking steps to improve our lifestyle! [Read more]

Let’s see if you know your fact vs marketing-myths, when it comes to weight loss supplements. Is the African herb hoodia an effective appetite suppressant? Do green tea supplements burn fat? Are all supplements out there in the market safe? Natural weight-loss supplements don’t have side effects. Correct? If you’ve answered yes to any of the above, I think you need to learn the facts. [Read more]