The USDA tested mandarins from 10 different micro-climates in Placer County and what they found inside these little fruits, compared to other citrus, 6 to 7 times the amount of synephrine, a naturally occurring decongestant.

Photo Credit: sonictk via Flickr

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Mandarin Oranges Contain Natural Decongestants

Under the assumption that intake of olive oil in the dose provided here was inert, our results support that increasing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in late pregnancy may carry an important prophylactic potential in relation to offspring asthma.”

In fact, the hazard rate for children of mothers consuming fish oil supplements during the third trimester to suffer from asthma in general was reduced by an impressive 63%. The relative risk for the offspring to be affected by allergic asthma was even further reduced to 87%.

“Our finding of lower occurrences of asthma in children of mothers who received supplements of marine omega-3 fatty acids in pregnancy is in line with 2 retrospective and 3 prospective studies. It is biologically plausible that increasing the intake of marine omega-3 PUFAs in the third trimester of pregnancy could have a preventive effect against asthma in the offspring. The marine omega-3 PUFAs, EPA and DHA, may affect fetal immune function through many different mechanisms.”

I just don’t understand why they would assume that olive oil is inert, when numerous studies have already demonstrated that olive oil exert various health benefits, although perhaps not in asthma or  allergies. If you’d like to read the manuscript yourself, you may refer to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Image Credit: sofijab

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Fish Oil During Pregnancy Prevent Asthma in Children

To be eligible to participate, you must be:

• male or female
• 18 to 55 years of age
• non-smoker
• taking asthma medications and requiring bronchodilator medication for periodic symptom relief and/or to protect against exercise-induced asthma symptoms

Eligible participants will undergo:

• comprehensive assessment of asthma and assessment of the effects of your current therapy
• blood samples are required for cholesterol testing
• provided with dietary supplementation of omega-3 fatty acid capsules for two three-week periods
• requires four two-hour visits to the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health research clinic in Hamilton over a nine-week period.

If you’re interested and think you’re eligible to participate in the study, please contact John Brannan at 905-522-1155, ext. 33584 or e-mail brannan@mcmaster.ca for more information. Participants will receive remuneration for their time and participation.

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Participants Needed for Asthma Study Involving Omega-3 Fatty Acid

Kids who have had bronchiolitis may be more likely to develop asthma later in life, but it’s unclear whether the illness causes or triggers asthma, or whether children who eventually develop asthma were simply more prone to developing bronchiolitis as infants. Studies are being done to clarify the relationship between bronchiolitis and the later development of asthma.

Although not conclusive, there have been several studies indicating that omega-3 fish oil supplements can help prevent or reduce the degree of asthma and allergies. Fish oil consumption during pregnancy has also been reported to protect infants against asthma, and I can only hope that the omega-3 supplements I am currently taking (which she gets as well since I’m breastfeeding) helps, too, to spare her from asthma and other allergies later on.

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Can Fish Oil Consumption Protect Against Asthma?

Blood samples were taken before the grass pollen season, then again when it was at its peak (June), and 4 weeks after the end of season. There were no significant differences in levels of IgE in the blood between the two groups at the start of the study, but IgE levels were lower in the probiotic group both at the peak season and afterwards.

At the same times, levels of the antibody IgG were higher, a type of antibody that in contrast to IgE is thought to play a protective role against allergic reactions.

“The probiotic strain we tested changed the way the body’s immune cells respond to grass pollen, restoring a more balanced immune response”, says Dr Kamal Ivory, a senior member of the group.

All these data, as mentioned, still preliminary, though. A wider scale clinical study is being planned.

Do you have allergies? What natural remedies do you use, if any, to alleviate your allergies?

Photo Credit: LWY via Flickr

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Yakult for Your Pollen Allergies

Bromelain may be a useful addition to other therapies used for sinusitis (such as antibiotics) due to its ability to reduce inflammation/swelling. Studies report mixed results, although overall bromelain appears to be beneficial for reducing swelling and improving breathing.

You can find more alternative therapies used in the treatment of allergies from rvita. For more on allergies, also visit the Allergizer, a comprehensive web resource for all types of allergies.

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Springtime, Allergy-time

March is the National Nutrition Month, a nutrition education and information campaign created by the American Dietetic Association.

During National Nutrition Month®, the American Dietetic Association urges consumers to look beyond the myths of nutrition, focus on the facts and remember the theme for the month, Nutrition: It’s a Matter of Fact.

“It may seem difficult to figure out the most healthful eating plan, and there are many nutrition myths that people follow as the truth,” says registered dietitian and ADA spokesperson Kerry Neville. “It’s important to focus on information that is based on scientific research.”

While we are no nutritionists/dietitians, we here at the b5media Science and Health Channel support this campaign by bringing you nutrition-related entries from different angles. If you find something intriguing and think you might be able to adapt it into your lifestyle, do consult your health practitioner.

Now for the entries:

Gloria at Cancer Commentary highlights five recent studies on how nutrition and eating right can reduce cancer risks.

Marijke at Help My Hurt focuses on some food-related chronic illness/chronic pain and what triggers them.

Angela at Breastfeeding 123 has dietary pointers breastfeeding women should take into consideration.

Liberty at HealthBolt offers tips into making your favorite comfort foods such as mac-and-cheese, chocolate cookies and pizza healthier.

Gabrielle at Fertility Notes highlights previous entries discussing foods believed to enhance fertility.

Kristina at Autism Vox looks into gluten-free casein-free diet for autistic kids, and the types of foods that has worked for her son.

Grace at Kids Health Notes emphasizes the importance of breakfast sin growing children, and offers breakfast-preparation tips and ideas.

Laura at CFS Squared introduces us to a new fruit hybrid, grapple, which has the texture of an apple, but smells and tastes like a grape.

Alicia at Mental Health Notes enumerates superfoods documented to help boost brain health.

Mary Emma, at Alzheimer’s Notes, writes about collecting Alzheimer’s family member’s recipes, that bring comfort and memories, as well as nutrition.

And from Eating Fabulous, well, I encourage you to go through my entire blog, which focuses on functional foods and nutraceuticals, the so-called superfoods!

Image: American Dietetic Association

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b5media Science and Health Channel Supports the National Nutrition Month

Although I find this article to be a bit too negative on the use of antibiotics, it does explain well how probiotics can put our body microflora into balance, particularly after a long treatment regimen with antibiotics.

“It’s important to remember that the other half of the therapy is to replant the forest with the good bacteria,” Huffnagle says. And while scientists are still trying to determine exactly how the microflora in the digestive tract affect the immune system, he says, studies have shown that probiotics can be a powerful tool to help strengthen immune systems and reduce the effects of allergies.

Probiotics, found in foods like yogurt and aged cheeses, “are eventually eliminated after a couple of days,” he says. “But they straighten up the house while they’re there, making an effort to create a more normal flora and to get the ratios right by the time they’ve disappeared.”

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Probiotics May Reduce Allergies, Stengthen Immune System

Apparently, not only are they rich in calcium (a quarter-cup supplies up to more than a third of the daily value for calcium), it’s also rich in

• calcium, and provides pain relief for rheumatoid arthritis
• magnesium, which is important for managing asthma, high blood pressure, migraine attacks, and sleep in menopausal women
• zinc, a trace element important for bone health and preventing osteoporosis
• phytoesterols (400-413 mg per 100 grams), which help lower blood cholesterol

WH Foods has more about the health benefits of sesame seeds as well as tips and ideas on how to incorporate them into your diet.

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Health Benefits of Sesame Seeds

A new study of 1924 children, published in the early online edition of Thorax, indicate that mothers who eat apples and fish during pregnancy may protect their children from developing asthma and allergies later in life.

According to the research, “The present study suggests beneficial associations between maternal apple intake during pregnancy and wheeze and asthma at age five years.” They add that their findings “suggest an apple specific effect, possibly because of its phytochemical content, such as flavonoids.” The research paper cites other related studies on apples, including those which found that “intake of apples as a significant source of flavonoids and other polyphenols has been beneficially associated with asthma, bronchial hypersensitivity, and lung function in adults.”

So, for the moms-to-be out there, snack on apples and do incorporate fish in your diet. While it’s true that there are fish types you should better stay away from, if you choose the right ones, the benefits outweigh the risks.

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Apples and Fish Consumption During Pregnancy Reduce Childhood Asthma and Allergies