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 study in mice indicates that quercetin, naturally found in plenty of fruits and veggies, helps resist flu, particularly among those who are physically fatigued and thus more susceptible to succumbing to sickness.
Although this study was done with mice, a recent human study found that people who took quercetin suffered fewer illnesses following three days of exhaustive exercise compared to those who did not. Unlike the mouse study, the humans were not inoculated with a virus.
“This is the first controlled experimental study to show a benefit of short-term quercetin feedings on susceptibility to respiratory infection following exercise stress,” said …read more

The McMaster University needs volunteers for its study aiming to determine potential protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids against asthma.
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 …read more

Ooops, it’s already the middle of the week and not a single new entry here at Eating Fabulous. Sorry for that. My two month old daughter has been admitted to the hospital for bronchiolitis. She’s ok now, but what concerns me is this, especially because asthma runs in our family:
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 …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