Resveratrol is a substance found in red wine and the skin of red grapes. You have probably heard of some of the prior research which has indicated that it has anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and life extension benefits. Now to that list we can add the possibillity that resveratrol is beginning to look like a promising weapon against type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes was formerly referred to as “adult-onset” diabetes. It causes cells to become less sensitive to the effects of insulin, as opposed to type 1 diabetes (formerly called juvenile diabetes), where the body just does not produce enough insulin.
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that in animal studies, resveratrol improves insulin sensitivity by activating an enzyme which in turn supresses a molecule that tends to decrease insulin activity.
Of course, further testing is required to confirm that the findings will translate to different animals and humans. One encouraging finding was that much lower doses of resveratrol were required than in previous studies.
In addition to grapes, grape juice and wine, resveratrol is found in varying amounts in a number of types of berries, plums and peanuts, and nutritional supplements are widely available. An interesting sidenote is that resveratrol in many ways seems to duplicate the biochemical effects of caloric restriction, so far the only reliable way that researchers have found to extend lifespan.
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A study done by Michael Holick of Boston University School of Medicine estimates that one billion people in the world are deficient in vitamin D. People who don’t get enough vitamin D are at risk of a number of health problems, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders and osteoporosis. We get D via supplements, food, and exposure to sunlight.People who live in areas that don’t get enough of the sun’s vitamin D-producing UVB rays have been shown to have higher rates of many types of cancers, diabetes, heart problems, multiple sclerosis, and Chron’s disease.It’s hard to get enough D from most dietary sources, so there are basically three ways to obtain adequate amounts of vitamin D: Eat oily fish or take a fish oil supplement (cod liver oil being the best), take specific vitamin D supplements, or increase sun exposure.It stands to reason that the unnatural aversion to sun exposure that’s been promoted by health authorities in recent years would eventually have negative effects.While laying out in the blazing sun all day is not good for anyone, a reasonable recommendation for obtaining sufficient vitamin D from sunlight is exposure of seventy percent of the body for twenty to twenty-five minutes three or four times a week.
When this is impossible, or if you live at a latitude which does not receive sufficient sun exposure in the winter months, then supplementation with cod liver oil or regular ingestion of fatty fish such as salmon or mackerel would be a good second choice.
Don’t depend on the fact that some dairy and other products are fortified with vitamin D. This has been shown to be insufficient.
It appears that the sensible advice of “physical culture” aficionados back in the 1950’s, which many have chuckled at over the ensuing decades as unscientific, may have been right on - enjoy fresh air and sunshine, eat a healthy diet that excludes processed foods, get some exercise, including strength training, on a regular basis, and enjoy life. While the physical culturists didn’t have any scientific evidence, their common sense told them this was the way to go, and over the years science seems to be proving them right. So go out and get a little sun tomorrow.
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A recent study which was published in the November issue of the Archives of Neurology found that people who consume larger quantities of fish have a significantly lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
It appears that the deciding factor is the blood level of DHA (docosanhexaenoic acid), an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid which is important to proper central nervous system functioning.
High levels of DHA appeared to cut risk of dementia by half in the study. Lead researcher Dr. Ernst J. Schaefer stated “Just as fish is good for your heart, it’s probably good for your brain as well”. The study used data from 899 men and women collected over nine years.
The researchers found that the study participants with the highest DHA levels had a 39 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s and a 47 percent lower risk of dementia, when compared with those with lower levels.
DHA is highest in fatty fish like mackerel, sardines, salmon and albacore tuna. The study participants with the highest levels of DHA averaged two to three servings of fish a week. However, if you don’t like fish, you’ll be pleased to know that Dr. Schaefer feels that the same benefits can be attained by taking fish oil supplements. He says “either eat more fish, or use one or two fish oil capsules a day”.
While experts agree that more research is needed to confirm that DHA protects against Alzheimer’s, since we already know that the omega-3 fatty acids protect the heart and circulatory system, eating more fatty fish or taking fish oil capsules seems to be a safe dietary modification for most people.
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Was recently reading about a study the Dutch consumers union published back in January. They concluded that organic produce didn’t contain any more vitamins or minerals than conventionally grown stuff. While I’ve read a few reports that contradict that conclusion, my reaction is….so what?
While it would be nice if organic fruits and veggies had more nutrients, that’s not the reason why I buy them, and I would venture to guess it doesn’t rank #1 on most organic shoppers’ lists. The main focus when buying organically grown is not on getting more of the good stuff, it’s on getting less (hopefully none) of the bad stuff, i.e., poison, otherwise known as chemical pesticides. Apparently this study did not even address this fact. Talk about missing the point!
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It shouldn’t be news to anybody that quitting smoking is just about the best thing anyone can do for their health. However, if you’re male and just haven’t been able to quit yet, you might want to make sure you ingest decent amounts of Vitamin E every day.
Recently, researchers found that Vitamin E appears to offer male smokers some protection from cancer. It seems to prevent the DNA damage that precedes the disease. Dr Frederica P. Perera of Columbia University School of Public Healthcollaborated with researchers from New York Universite School of Medicine to measure both plasma vitamin E levels and a substance that is a marker of oxidative DNA damage on 280 males and female smokers (at least ten cigarettes per day). They found that, in men, lower levels of DNA damage were associated with higher vitamin E levels. The association was not seen in women, however. The greatest benefit was found in men who posessed a gene variant which produces enzymes that serve to detoxify tobacco smoke carcinogens.
Dr Perera said “There was a dose-response relationship, in that the more vitamin E we found in the blood of the men, the less there was of this cancer-related biomarker. This suggests that while working toward the goal of quitting smoking, which is the very best way to prevent development of smoking-related cancers, it could be helpful to eat a diet rich in vitamin E.” While there’s still a lot of research to be done, eating a natural foods diet rich in vitamin E can’t be a mistake, regardless of whether you smoke or not.
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Vitamin C is a very important antioxidant for anyone with CHD (Coronary Heart Disease). It is a water-soluble vitamin which means that any unused quantity will be excreted from the body through urination. Therefore, it must be consumed each day. Taking vitamin C after a high-fat meal has been shown to reverse vasoconstriction, or narrowing of blood vessels, after the meal. Sources for vitamin C include all citrus fruits, tomatoes, cabbage and all green leafy vegetables. Cooking can destroy vitamin C, so it is best if the body takes in this vitamin through raw foods or in the form of vitamin supplements. The recommended daily allowance for vitamin C is 60 mg but many experts advise taking in quite a bit more, which is definitely recommended for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, smokers, or someone with an injury that is healing. Vitamin C is usually nontoxic but excessive quantities can cause stomach-bloating, diarrhea, and possibly an increase in kidney stone problems. Another important antioxidant for good heart health is vitamin E.
Read the full article about antioxidants and Coronary Heart Disease
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The American Heart Association’s journal Circulation published a study in the Sept 26 issue which tracked 13,946 subjects for 12 years. It found adults with a blood lead level of 3.6 to 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood were 2 1/2 times more likely to die of a heart attack, 89% more likely to die of stroke, and 55% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those with lower levels.
The number “3.6 to 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood” probably means as little to you as it does to me, but consider that prior to this study, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration had suggested that 400 micrograms per liter was a safe level.
While lead exposure in the US has dropped significantly since it was phased out of gasoline, the most recent figures indicate that almost forty percent of Americans had blood lead levels higher than 20 mcg per liter.
Further information from the LA Times
Coincidentally,a couple of recent studies have indicated that dietary calcium may help prevent hypertension caused by elevated levels of lead in the blood. Well, at least there’s some good news!
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You’d expect that by the time people reach the “golden years” they would understand the importance of eating nutritionally balanced meals. Unfortunately, being older frequently doesn’t equate to being wiser when it comes to diet. The truth is that seniors often do not get the vitamins and minerals their bodies need to fight the onset of the degenerative issues that can accompany aging.
As we age, our bodies naturally become less efficient at using the nutrients we do ingest. Making things worse is the fact that seniors tend to take more medications than other age groups. Many of these medications negatively affect the body’s usage of nutrients.
Many seniors live alone and don’t feel like preparing nutritionally balanced meals for themselves. Add to that the fact that many of these same seniors don’t exercise on a regular basis and it’s no wonder they frequently show symptoms of various vitamin deficiencies.
Sufficient intake of Vitamin D is extremely important to seniors. It plays a large role in the body’s ability to absorb calcium, which is required to keep bones healthy. Lacking calcium, bones become brittle and lose mass, which leads to osteoporosis. Many seniors do not consume enough dairy products or receive enough …..
The full article about seniors and vitamins
