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 same time also lowered the oxidative stress-induced damage of lipids, i.e. fat molecules which are vital for the proper functioning of the human body. However, other blood parameters such as cholesterol or glucose levels appeared to be unaffected by the Goji fruit juice consumption.

Taken together, this placebo-controlled study by Amagase and colleagues indicates that Goji fruit juice “increased antioxidant efficacies in humans by stimulating endogenous factors and suggest that continued use beyond 30 days might help prevent or reduce free radical-related conditions.”.

For more details, you may want to check out the article published recently in the journal Nutrition Research (doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2008.11.005).

Photo: Wolfberries, Wikipedia

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Wolfberry (Goji) Improves Oxidative Stress Resistance in Humans

Before (pre) and after (post) the supplementation period, participants performed a discontinuous cycle ergometry test to determine the PWCFT [physical working capacity at the fatigue threshold (PWCFT)]. Results: Significant increases in PWCFT (28.6%) from pre- to post-supplementation were found for the BA treatment group (p<0.05), but no change was observed with PL treatment. These findings suggest that ninety days of BA supplementation may increase physical working capacity by delaying the onset of neuromuscular fatigue in elderly men and women.

The researchers believe that beta-alanine supplementation may help in the prevention of falls, and the maintenance of health and independent living in elderly men and women.

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Beta-Alanine Improves Muscle Endurance Among the Elderly

These observations build on previously published reports that vitamin K may have an effect on diabetes development via the vitamin K-dependant protein osteocalcin:

By “knocking out” these genes in mice so that they could not function, the animals lacking a functional osteocalcin gene gained fat, showing that osteocalcin helps regulate the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas and release it into the bloodstream.

These osteocalcin deficient mice also became glucose intolerant. Both conditions are considered “pre-diabetic.”

Osteocalcin was also shown to signal fat cells to release a hormone called adiponectin that increases insulin sensitivity (Cell, 2007 Vol. 130, pp. 456-469).

Vitamin K1, also called phylloquinone or phytonadione, (as opposed to Vitamin K2, also termed menaquinones) is found in green leafy vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli and spinach.

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Vitamin K1 May Reduce Development of Insulin Resistance

Hargrove explained that when blood sugar levels are high, a process known as protein glycation occurs in which the sugar bonds with proteins to eventually form what are known as advanced glycation end products, also known as AGE compounds. The acronym is fitting because these compounds activate the immune system, resulting in the inflammation and tissue damage associated with aging and diabetes.

The researchers found a strong and direct correlation between the phenol content of common herbs and spices and their ability to inhibit the formation of AGE compounds. Spices such as cloves and cinnamon had phenol levels that were 30 percent and 18 percent of dry weight, respectively, while herbs such as oregano and sage were eight and six percent phenol by dry weight, respectively. For comparison, blueberries – which are widely touted for their antioxidant capabilities – contain roughly five percent phenol by dry weight.

In one sitting I can easily eat about a hundred grams of blueberries, but I don’t think I use more than a gram of spices and herbs in any one dish. However, I do use herbs and spices quite regularly, especially oregnao, basil, thyme, and rosemary. Any ideas for sage-recipes?

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Herbs and Spices Help Fight Diabetes and Aging

Introducing Embodi™ beverages, a unique approach to healthfulness and longevity. Embodi is a refreshing, all-natural fruit-juice blend packed with red wine antioxidants to create a non-alcoholic drink that offers the same health benefits of red wine – sans the headache.

Each bottle of Embodi is packed with the unique antioxidant power of red wine grapes. The secret to Embodi is a special pomace extract made from the seeds, stems and skins of the red wine grapes. This extract contains the full-spectrum of polyphenols antioxidants found in red wine. Polyphenols are natural plant compounds that have been scientifically proven to help the body support cardiovascular wellness and healthy cellular growth.

There are three variants available at Whole Foods Market nationwide. I haven’t tried them myself: let me know if you have!

Image Source: Embodi website

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Embodi Beverages: Red Wine Antioxidants Without the Alcohol

But there’s more to flax than these. I’ve received permission to reprint this from the Flax Council of Canada:

Flax is an ideal, functional food ingredient. It is added to many products on today’s grocery shelves because of the omega-3 fats, lignans, and fiber found in the seed, which all help deliver a extra health boost to food’s original nutrient content. Flax also adds a mild, nutty flavor and provides a powerful health punch to your favorite foods. Its primary health benefits include the following:

Flax’s healthy fatty acid profile is one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids, ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), a polyunsaturated fat that offers unique heart health benefits including lowering cholesterol level
• Flax is one the best plant sources of lignans, natural antioxidants that helps prevent cancer and may reduce the activity of cell-damaging free radicals that slow the aging process
• Flax is an excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, providing three grams of fiber per tablespoon. The fiber in flax is good for heart, colon, and digestive health, and can ease the effects of type-2 diabetes

Flax is an easy ingredient to add to your recipes. It’s also already an ingredient in many packaged products, such as snack or energy bars, cookies, crackers, breads, muffins, butter, on today’s grocery shelves. It’s also easy to add to foods you already eat every day. Sprinkle it on your morning cereal, in your smoothie, and over salads or fruit. It also can be added to soups, pasta sauces, or your favorite baked goods.

Want to know more about flax– its health benefits and how to incorporate it into your lifestyle? HealthyFlax has all the info you need!

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Health Benefits of Flax

In a scientific study of healthy, older adults ages 59 to 83, Harvard medical scientists found that study participants who regularly drank a cocoa flavanol-rich beverage made using the Mars, Incorporated Cocoapro® process had an eight percent increase in brain blood flow after one week, and 10 percent increase after two weeks.

In this first-of-its-kind study, the researchers found both short and long-term benefits of cocoa flavanols for brain blood flow, offering future potential for the one in seven older Americans currently living with dementia. When the flow of blood to the brain slows over time, the result may be structural damage and dementia. Scientists speculate that maintaining an increased blood flow to the brain could slow this cognitive decline.

The study has been published recently in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, but the story is no longer new to me though. I’ve already blogged about a report on the effects of flavanol on the blood flow to the brain more than a year ago. Perhaps the same data set, just took longer to publish?

Image from CocoaVia.com

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Could Chocolate Help Prevent Dementia and Stroke?

A team of researchers across seven European countries and co-ordinated by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine sought to investigate the association between fish intake and omega 3 fatty acids with wet AMD, comparing people with wet AMD with controls. Participants were interviewed about their dietary habits including how much fish they ate and what type. Information on the main omega 3 fatty acids (docosahexaenoicacid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was obtained by linking dietary data with food composition tables.

The findings show that people who habitually consume oily fish at least once a week compared with less than once a week are 50% less likely to have wet AMD. There was no benefit from consumption of non oily white fish. There was a strong inverse association between levels of DHA and EPA and wet AMD. People in the top 25% of DHA and EPA levels (300 mg per day and above) were 70% less likely to have wet AMD.

Would fish oil supplement do the trick as well? They don’t know.

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Oily Fish Consumption May Prevent Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Check it out!

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Foods to Keep You Healthy

Alzheimer’s Disease is believed to be caused by the accumulation of beta-amyloid, a toxic insoluble fibrous protein in the brain, which leads to the death of neurons. Thus, to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers are trying to find ways of the build up of these substances by stimulating the immune system, e.g. with a vaccine, to reduce beta-amyloid in the brain.

Korean researchers have genetically modified tomatoes to carry the gene for the human amyloid
for the purpose of using it as an oral, edible vaccine.

Using Agrobacterium-mediated nuclear transformation, we generated transgenic tomatoes for Aβ with tandem repeats. Integration of the human Aβ gene into the tomato genome and its transcription were detected by PCR and Northern blot, respectively. Expression of the Aβ protein was confirmed by western blot and ELISA, and then the transgenic tomato line expressing the highest protein level was selected for vaccination. Mice immunized orally with total soluble extracts from the transgenic tomato plants elicited an immune response after receiving a booster. The results indicate that tomato plants may provide a useful system for the production of human Aβ antigen.

Clearly, this line of research is still in the early stages. All it was able to show was that the tomatoes did elicit an immune response in the test animals. Whether those animals were actually protected against Alzheimers disease was not reported.

Hat Tip: Biotech Weblog, Photo Credit: freestuf

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Genetically Modified Tomatoes as Oral Vaccine Against Alzheimer’s Disease?