A new study published in European Heart Journal (doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehn409) reports that isoflavones– compounds naturally found in soybeans, chickpeas, legumes and clovers, but also available as a dietary supplement– may help prevent cardiovascular disease among stroke patients by enhancing the functioning of the arteries, specifically, the flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery (main artery in the arm).
[The researchers] found that 12 weeks of isoflavone supplement, at a dose of 80 mg a day, significantly improved brachial FMD and, therefore, vascular endothelial dysfunction in patients who had suffered an ischaemic stroke (a stroke caused by blood clots or other obstructions).
The researchers also …read more

A new animal study indicates that low doses of resveratrol, an antioxidant compound naturally found in grapes, pomegranates, red wine among others, can potentially boost the quality of life in old age by improving heart health. The effects of resveratrol seems to mimic that of caloric restriction, which involves keeping to 20 to 30 percent less calories than a typical diet. Caloric restriction is believed to be effective in extending lifespan by reducing cellular stress response.
In this study, the researchers compared the genetic responses of animals to either restricted diets or normal diets including small doses of resveratrol, …read more

Wine consumption has already been documented many times to help reduce the risks of Alzheimer’s Disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. The health benefit is believed to be an effect of a compound called resveratrol, found in grape skin and seed.
But what if you’re a teetotaler? Or are perhaps taking other medications that are contra-indicated with alcohol? Or simply steering away from alcoholic drinks? A new study shows that a nutritional supplement containing grape seed extract may work just as well.
“Meganatural AZ grape seed extracts significantly reduced Alzheimer’s disease – type cognitive deterioration in the Alzheimer’ disease mice through mechanisms that …read more

It’s fairly common knowledge that there’s no cure for the common cold. However, a new study indicates that Wellmune WGP, a natural immune-enhancing ingredient manufactured by Biothera, could prevent fever and alleviate the symptoms of a cold, to the extent that you no longer feel the need to miss work or school due to the cold-like symptoms.
“This study’s results are exciting because they show the potential for Wellmune WGP to naturally enhance the body’s innate immune response to protect against and ameliorate the symptoms of something that every one of us encounters—the common cold. These results are consistent with numerous …read more

Two new studies presented at the Experimental Biology Annual Meeting suggest that Diabetinol, an all-natural dietary supplement made from citrus, may help lower blood glucose levels and be beneficial in lowering the risks of heart disease and diabetic complications in people with type 2 diabetes.
“Our scientifically validated testing has consistently shown that Diabetinol™ improves blood glucose numbers. This time we saw a sizeable change in glucose intolerance in just a short time. This is good news for many of the 21 million Americans with diabetes. Tighter blood sugar control may mean less diabetic complications like nerve pain and kidney disease. …read more

According to a prospective study published this month in Archives of Ophthalmology, higher dietary intakes of lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin E from food and supplements were found to be associated with significantly decreased risks of cataract among women. A cataract is an age-related condition characterized by clouding of the lens in the eye, thus affecting vision.
According to this related article in WebMD:
Foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin include leafy green vegetables (such as spinach, kale, turnip greens, collards, and mustard greens), squash, green peas, broccoli, pumpkin, and corn.
Foods rich in vitamin E include vegetable oils, almonds, sunflower seeds, leafy green …read more

Results from a recent animal study indicates that lipoic acid supplements can improve conditions that contribute to cardiovascular disease risk such as formation of arterial lesions, lower triglycerides, and reduce blood vessel inflammation and weight gain.
Although the results cannot be directly extrapolated beyond the laboratory, researchers report that “they strongly suggest that lipoic acid supplementation may be useful as an inexpensive but effective intervention strategy . . . reducing known risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis and other inflammatory vascular diseases in humans.”
Although lipoic acid is naturally occurring in foods such as green leafy vegetables, potatoes and meats, particularly …read more

/>According to an animal study recently published in the online edition of the FASEB Journal, a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may protect against Parkinson’s disease, degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that affects motor skills and speech.
The researchers observed that when mice were fed an omega-3 rich diet, they seemed immune to the effect of MPTP, a toxic compound that causes the same damage to the brain as Parkinson’s. “This compound, which has been used for more than 20 years in Parkinson’s research, works faster than the disease itself and is just as effective in …read more

A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that Vitamin D, a key nutrient present in milk, could have aging benefits linked to reduced inflammation.
In a genetic study of more than 2,100 female twin pairs ages 19-79, British and American researchers found that higher vitamin D levels were linked to improved genetic measures of lifelong aging and chronic stress. Using a genetic marker called leukocyte telomere length (LTL), they found those with the highest vitamin D levels had longer LTL, indicating lower levels of inflammation and body stress. The telomere difference between those with the …read more

A recent animal study indicate that diets enriched with tart cherries may significantly lower insulin and fasting glucose levels (pdf), key markers for the development of type 2 diabetes. Adding cherries to the diet also lowered the animals’ total cholesterol levels and triglycerides after 90 days.
The study also showed the cherry-fed groups had lower levels of a plasma marker of oxidative damage and increased blood antioxidant capacity – not surprising since cherries are one of the richest sources of antioxidants.
The study used whole tart cherries in powder form, which was fed to rats as one percent of
their total diet. While …read more