Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

Numerous studies have shown aloe vera to be effective at helping to heal wounds, ease the pain of burns and aid digestion. A new study has found that aloe vera may also be effective at reducing pain and speeding healing following hemorrhoid surgery.

The study was conducted by researchers at the Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Their findings were published in the June 2010 issue of the Journal of Alternative and Contemporary Medicine.

The researchers conducted a double blind, placebo-controlled study that compared the effects of an aloe vera cream to a placebo cream on posthemorroidectomy pain.

49 postoperative patients participated in the study. 24 were randomly selected to receive the aloe vera cream and 25 received the placebo.

The participants applied the cream to the surgical site 3 times per day for 4 weeks following the surgery. Pain was assessed at 12, 24 and 48 hours after surgery, and then again at the end of weeks 2 and 4. Wound healing was evaluated at the end of weeks 2 and 4.

Patients who used the aloe vera cream had significantly less postoperative pain at hours 12, 24 and 48 and at 2 weeks. They also experienced less pain during defecation 24 and 48 hours post surgery.

Additionally, wound healing 2 weeks after surgery was significantly greater in the aloe vera cream group compared to the placebo group, and the aloe users used fewer pain relievers post surgery.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

Gymena Sylvestre (GS) has been used in India as a traditional folk remedy for centuries. Now, a small study conducted by researchers at Calcutta University has found that Gymnena Sylvestre may help blood sugar levels.

The findings of the study were published in the July 2010 issue of the journal Phytotherapy Research.

The study included seven women and four men from West Bengal, India. The participants had an average age of 50 and average weight of 140 pounds. All of them had been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes.

All of the participants were given 500 mg of the GS extract for 60 days. Blood samples were taken at the beginning and end of the trial. There was no control group.

At the end of the study, the researchers observed a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose levels and post-meal blood glucose levels among 10 of the 11 participants. The participants also had increased levels of insulin and C-peptide.

This was a small study and further trials with larger populations will be undertaken to verify these findings.

Other potential benefits of the plant include anti-bacterial properties, lowering cholesterol and boosting the immune system.

Scott Greenberg, NatureCity author & contributor

A study published recently in the July 2010 issue of the journal Ophthalmology found that older adults that consume fatty fish at least once a week have a significant reduction in the risk of developing age related macular degeneration (AMD).

AMD is the leading cause of severe vision loss and blindness in the Western world. It is a progressive disease that attacks the macula of the eye and affects over 15 million Americans. It causes central vision loss and leaves only peripheral vision.

For the study, researchers from Johns Hopkins University recruited 2,520 adults between 65 and 84 years of age.

All of the participants underwent a complete eye examination and filled out dietary questionnaires. The researchers found that 15% of the participants had early or intermediate stage AMD and 3% had advanced AMD.

Initially, the researchers found no association between overall fish intake and reductions in AMD risk. However, when they focused solely on fatty fish intake they found a significant correlation.

Specifically, they found a 60% reduction in AMD risk among participants that consumed one or more servings of fatty fish per week compared to those that ate less than one serving.

Fatty fish are high in healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to improve heart health, boost cognitive function and even help regulate mood.

Salmon, mackerel and tuna are all high in these essential fatty acids. They can also be found in supplement form but be sure to look for supplements high in the most important omega-3 fatty acids EPA/DHA and certified for purity.

Sarah McGowan-Freije, NatureCity author & contributor

More and more research is highlighting the fact that vitamin D intake among mature adults is far too low, and that this deficiency could be damaging their health. A new study by researchers from Britain, Italy and the United States now links the risk of dementia to inadequate levels of vitamin D.

The study, which was published in the July 2010 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that low levels of vitamin D may significantly increase the risk of cognitive decline and dementia among mature adults.

858 Italians aged 65 or older were recruited for the study and followed for 6 years. The researchers assessed cognitive decline using a well known method called the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE.)

They found that the participants with the lowest levels of vitamin D had a staggering 60% increased risk of substantial cognitive decline by the end of the study. Those participants were also 31% more likely to experience problems shifting their attention between tasks with different cognitive requirements.

These findings show that vitamin D supplementation may work as a preventative measure and possibly even a treatment for dementia.

Vitamin D is important for many other things as well, such as bone health, boosting the immune system and even reducing the risk of heart disease and type-2 diabetes. Currently, approximately 90% of mature adults are vitamin D deficient, in large part due to the fact that our skin becomes less efficient at synthesizing the vitamin as we age.

Vitamin D levels can be increased by taking a daily vitamin D supplement or incorporating more vitamin D fortified foods into the diet. Some foods that are often fortified with vitamin D are yogurt, milk, orange juice, cereals and margarine.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

Researchers at the Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan have found that an extract made from corn may help mature adults ease constipation. Their findings were published in the July 2010 issue of the journal Nutrition.

The study included 13 mature adults with frequent constipation and an average age of 82.

The participants were randomly assigned to receive 10 grams per day of a corn extract (isomalto-oligosaccharide) or a placebo (fructose) for eight weeks.

After 8 weeks, the researchers found that the number of bowel movements per week among the participants given the corn extract increased from 1.2 times/week to 2.0 times/week. The researchers also found a decrease in cholesterol from 4.1 mmol/L at the start of the study to 3.6 mmol/L at the end of the study.

Isomalto-oligosaccharides are naturally found in fermented foods such as miso and soy sauce. They are also commercially produced from corn starch and used as an added food ingredient.

There are already a number of other well known ways to relieve and even altogether avoid constipation such as frequently drinking fluids and eating more vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

Sometimes relieving constipation is more about what you don’t consume than what you do consume. For instance, soft drinks, processed food and coffee can all contribute to constipation.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

Researchers from Harvard Medical School recently conducted a study which found that calcium supplements created from algae sources may be more effective for bone health than other common forms of the mineral.

They published their findings in the July 2010 issue of the journal Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry.

The study involved a head to head comparison of calcium derived from algae and more common forms of calcium such as calcium carbonate and calcium citrate.

The researchers found a 2-2.5 times increase in alkaline phosphatase activity, which is a good measure of bone mineralization. They also found that the algae-derived calcium increased measures of new bone building by 3-4 times and calcium depositing by 1-4 times.

Prior to this study the widely held belief was that all calcium supplements performed relatively the same. Although further studies will be necessary to delve deeper into these new findings, opting for a calcium supplement made from algae sources may not be a bad idea.

The researchers also looked at the effects of combining the algae-derived calcium with vitamin D3. They found that co-administration with vitamin D3 increased the effectiveness of the calcium supplement.

You can get vitamin D in supplement form and many foods are fortified with the vitamin such as yogurt, milk, orange juice, cereals and margarine.

Studies have also shown that soy and vitamin K may be particularly helpful for bone health, especially among post-menopausal women.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

Anxiety significantly increases heart patients’ risk of suffering a stroke, heart attack or heart failure according to a study published in the July 2010 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Researchers from Tiburg University, the Netherlands recruited 1,024 heart disease patients for the study. 106 of those participants had generalized anxiety disorder.

The researchers followed the participants for six years and during that time they recorded 371 cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or death.

They found that people with anxiety disorders had a 74% increased risk of suffering a cardiovascular event. This relationship remained true even after the researchers accounted for a long list of possible contributing factors such as depression, inflammation and physical activity.

According to the researchers the link between anxiety and increased risk of cardiovascular complications could be due to a number of factors such as increases in fight or flight hormones and heart rate. Anxious patients may also be less likely to seek out help.

These findings show that people that are already at high risk of cardiovascular disease may want to consider making lifestyle changes to reduce stress.

There are a number of natural ways to reduce stress. According to experts and recent studies, meditating, yoga, increasing activity levels and listening to soothing music all can be effective. Additionally, natural remedies such as omega-3 fatty acids, St Johns Wort and Goji berry juice may combat stress, anxiety and depression in a number of different ways.

Sarah McGowan-Freije, NatureCity author & contributor

Scientists from the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Finland recently found that vitamin D may reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. They published their findings in the July 2010 issue of the Archives of Neurology.

For the study, over 3,000 men and women in Finland between 50 and 79 years of age were followed over a 29 year period from 1978 to 2007. During the course of the study 50 cases of Parkinson’s were diagnosed.

The researchers found that participants in the top 25% in terms of vitamin D levels had an impressive 67% reduction in Parkinson’s risk compared to those in the lowest 25%. This relationship remained true even after the researchers accounted for other variables including physical activity levels and body mass index.

The researchers were not able to offer any explanations for how vitamin D may lower the risk of Parkinson’s. However, they highlighted the fact that previous studies have shown that the vitamin may exert a protective effect on the brain through antioxidant activities, regulation of calcium levels and detoxification.

Vitamin D has also been shown to play a role in bone health and in boosting the immune system and may be linked to heart disease and type-2 diabetes.

One way to increase vitamin D levels is through exposure to the sun. For many people in colder climates however (such as those in this study) the sun simply isn’t enough. This is especially true for mature adults because our skin becomes less efficient at synthesizing the vitamin as we age.

For this reason, many people take a daily vitamin D supplement or incorporate more vitamin D fortified foods into their diet. Some foods that are often fortified with vitamin D are yogurt, milk, orange juice, cereals and margarine.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle recently conducted a study which found that regular consumption of omega-3 rich fish oil supplements may reduce the risk of breast cancer.

They published the findings of their study in the July 2010 issue of the journal Cancer Epidimiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

For the study over 35,000 postmenopausal women filled out a 24 page questionnaire about their use of dietary supplements including fish oil. All of the women lived in Washington State, were between 50 and 76 years of age and had no history of breast cancer at the start of the study.

After 6 years of follow-up, 880 of the participants were diagnosed with breast cancer. When the researchers compared women that took fish oil supplements on a regular basis to those that did not they found a 32% decreased risk of breast cancer among women taking the supplements.

Many of the women reported taking supplements that are commonly used to treat menopause symptoms such as soy, St Johns Wort and black cohosh but none of those supplements appeared to have any effect on breast cancer risk.

This study did not look into the mechanism behind the findings but the anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids likely play a large role according to the researchers.

These strong anti-inflammatory properties also play a role in the long list of other health benefits associated with omega-3′s including reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s and certain cancers.

Taking a high quality supplement is a good way to increase omega-3 intake, just be sure that the supplement you choose is certified for purity and high in DHA and EPA, the two most important omega-3 fatty acids. Oily fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna are also high in omega-3′s.

Scott Greenberg, NatureCity author & contributor

Taking a high daily dose of vitamin B6 may help reduce arthritis symptoms according to a study published in the July 2010 issue of the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Researchers at Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan recruited 35 participants who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for their 12 week study.

At the beginning of the study the participants were randomly assigned to receive either 5mg of folic acid or 5mg of folic acid plus 100mg of vitamin B6 daily.

After 12 weeks of supplementation the researchers observed a significant decrease in a number of inflammatory markers among the participants given the B6 supplement. There was no significant change among the participants who took only the folic acid supplement.

The researchers concluded that the high dose of B6 supplementation suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines which alleviated the arthritis symptoms.

Further research is necessary to look deeper into vitamin B6 as a potential prevention and treatment for arthritis but taking a B6 supplement may provide numerous health benefits beyond arthritis.

Previous studies have found a link between vitamin B6 and reductions in the risk of stroke, birth defects and hearing loss. B6 also plays an important role in many essential functions in the human body ranging from nervous system function to red blood cell formation.

While a supplement is a good way to get your B vitamins, they are also present in various foods including broccoli, asparagus, potatoes, tuna and salmon. You can also buy milk and flour products that are fortified with B vitamins.