Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

Researchers at the Harvard Medical School have found that the soy isoflavone daidzein was effective in reducing hot flashes in menopausal women by up to 52%.

The results of the study were published in the January 2008 edition of Menopause, the journal of the North American Menopause Society.

The researchers studied 147 menopausal women between the ages of 38 and 60 who experienced from 4 to 14 hot flashes per day.  The women were divided into different groups that either received daidzein or a placebo.  After 12 weeks, the women taking daidzein reported a reduction in hot flashes of 52% compared to a 39% reduction in the placebo group.

This lead researchers to conclude that daidzein supplementation may be an effective and acceptable alternative to hormone treatment for menopausal hot flashes.

An interesting result of this study is the high placebo effect as evidenced by the 39% reduction experienced by the placebo group.

This research is the latest in the ongoing debate in the scientific community over the efficacy of soy isoflavones on menopausal symptoms.

Menopause; January 2008, Volume 15, Issue 1, Pages 125-134; “Daidzein-rich isoflavone aglycones are potentially effective in reducing hot flashes in menopausal women”; L. Khaodhiar, H. Ricciotti, L. Li, W. Pan, M. Schickel, J. Zhou, G. Blackburn.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

A UCLA research team led by Dr. Andre Nel is studying the damage caused to cells and tissue by harmful molecules called free radicals in a process known as oxidation.

Initial results indicate there is potential for greater cardiovascular damage when environmental free radicals combine with those produced by the body.

The researchers mixed particles from diesel exhaust with fatty acids found in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (bad cholesterol). Free radicals from diesel exhaust are found in polluted air, and are also produced by the body when food is converted into energy.

Next, the mixture was cultured with cells taken from inside blood vessels and then genetic material from the cells was extracted for examination.

What the researchers found was genes that promote cellular inflammation had become highly activated, a condition known to be a risk factor for atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

To see if the same result would occur in living cells, they repeated the test using mice with high cholesterol. Activation of some of the same genes occurred in the animal’s tissue.

The implication is that for people with risk factors like high cholesterol, diesel air pollution can potentially increase damage to the cardiovascular system by enhancing inflammation there.

The UCLA study is ongoing. Eventually, a simple blood test may be able to determine whether or not a person is at risk for disease brought on by the combination of environmental and metabolic free radicals.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

A spoonful of sugar may help the medicine go down.  But can a handful of peanuts help your diabetes risk go down?  The answer is a resounding yes according to researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Shanghai Cancer Institute.

They followed the dietary habits of 64,227 middle-aged Chinese women with no previous history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease or cancer for 5 years.  During the study period, those women who had the highest intake of legumes had a 38% reduction in their risk of developing type-2 diabetes.  Higher intake of soybeans had an even greater effect, reducing the risk by 47%.

The results of the study were published in the January 2008 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

You should be aware that many commercial brands of nuts can contain alarming amounts of salt. Furthermore, nuts can be highly caloric so please be careful not to eat too many.  Any health benefits could quickly be offset by the high sodium and calories associated with over-indulging.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: January 2008, Volume 87, Number 1, Pages 162-167. “Legume and soy food intake and the incidence of type 2 diabetes in the Shanghai Women’s Health Study”; Authors: Villegas R, Gao YT, Yang G, Li HL, Elasy TA, Zheng W, Shu XO.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

        Harvard scientists found that low levels of vitamin D in the blood could increase the risk of a coronary event by 62%.  When coupled with high blood pressure, that risk increases to 113%. The results of the study were published in the January 2008 edition of Circulation – the Journal of the American Heart Association. 

        Researchers measured the levels of the storage form of Vitamin D in the bloodstreams of 1,739 participants without heart disease.  After 5 years, they found that participants with low levels of the storage form of vitamin D were at a 62% greater risk of a coronary event.  Having high blood pressure in addition to low vitamin D levels increased that risk to 113%.   

        Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors: D2 and D3.  Vitamin D2 is derived from your diet (fatty fish, eggs and liver).  Vitamin D3 is produced in the skin upon exposure to the sun’s UVB rays.

           Recent studies have shown that sunshine levels in some northern climates are not sufficient for the body to make any vitamin D.  During winter months, over half the population living in northern climates may not be exposed to strong enough sunshine to produce sufficient levels of vitamin D.          The researchers found that “treatment of vitamin D deficiency, via supplementation or lifestyle measures, could reduce cardiovascular risk.” 

Source: Circulation; January 2008 pages 1-9; “Vitamin D Deficiency and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease”;  Thomas J. Wang, Michael J. Pencina, Sarah L. Booth, Paul F. Jacques, Erik Ingelsson, Katherine Lanier, Emelia J. Benjamin, Ralph B. D’Agostino, Myles Wolf, and Ramachandran S. Vasan.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

Don’t throw away your toothbrush and dental floss just yet but a recent study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry has some promising news about wine grapes and oral health.

Researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York report that the skin and seeds of red wine grapes may hinder the formation of dental caries, an infectious disease that causes tooth decay and cavities.

The USDA sponsored study found that polyphenols in the grapes seemed to inhibit enzymes called glycosyltransferases (GTFs) from protecting the harmful bacteria that coat teeth.

The polyphenol extract used also seemed to cause the bacteria –called Streptococcus mutans (S mutans)–to produce less of the acid that leads to tooth decay and cavities.

These results add to a growing list of polyphenol health benefits. Polyphenols also contain powerful antioxidants that provide anti-aging properties and protect cells from oxidation that can lead to neuro-degenerative and cardiovascular diseases.

Perhaps the best way to boost polyphenol intake is by drinking a glass of tea each day.  Green tea in particular is great for overall health and contains epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the polyphenol most strongly associated with cancer prevention.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

Improved respiration and air flow in the lungs were recently added to the list of health benefits from soy isoflavones.

A study was done at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and results were reported in the January 2008 issue of the journal Clinical Experimental Allergy.

Genistein, a soy isoflavone, was given to subjects with mild to moderate cases of persistent asthma for a period of four weeks. Afterwards, cells collected from study participants were found to have one-third less leukotrienes as compared to levels before taking the isoflavones. Inflammation causing leukotrienes can trigger asthma symptoms.

In addition, there was a 17% decrease in the amount of nitric oxide (FENO) exhaled, reflecting a lower level of inflammation in the airways.

Isoflavones are estrogen-like substances found in some plants. They are strong antioxidants which prior studies indicate provide heart and bone health benefits. They are widely used by pre and post-menopausal women who face a higher incidence of heart disease and osteoporosis. As well, soy isoflavones are a natural alternative to hormone replacement drugs to help control symptoms of menopause.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

A new study from researchers at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) showed that the Omega-3, DHA, may help protect brain cells from damage. The results were published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

The study found that DHA stimulates the production of a protein called LR11. This is important because when your body doesn’t produce enough LR11 protein, plaque called beta-amyloid can build up.

This particular plaque has been shown to damage brain cells and spark the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. In the UCLA study, even low levels of DHA–a key omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil–helped boost the cell protecting LR11 protein.

This is not the only recent study to show fish oil can benefit your neurological and brain health. For example, in November 2007, scientists at the Universite Laval in Canada reported that DHA reduces the toxic effect of a chemical called MPTP. This can reduce your risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Moreover, also in November, three separate studies from Norway, New Zealand and the Netherlands all showed how fish oil omega-3s benefits cognitve health and brain function.

Although the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil are known more for heart health, there is rapidly growing evidence for significant brain health benefits also.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

As wonderful as the Holiday season can be, the shopping, cooking, travel and crowds can make it a pretty stressful time of year for many of us. 

Have no fear.  Researchers at the University of Karlstad, Sweden have determined that yoga breathing exercises can induce a feeling of well being.

    The study, published in the December 19^th edition of the journal BioMed Central Complementary and Alternative Medicine evaluated over 100 adults split into two groups for six weeks.  

 The first group practiced Sudarshan Kriya, a type of yoga which involves cycles of slow normal and rapid breathing exercises, for one hour per day, six days per week.  The second group relaxed for 15 minutes each day by sitting in an armchair with their eyes closed.

During the study period, the participants in the yoga program had a decreased level of depression and anxiety and an increased degree of experienced optimism. They also experienced a decreased level of stress compared with the relaxation group.

 Source: BioMed Central Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2007 Dec19:7(1):43  Wellness through a comprehensive Yogic breathing program – A controlled pilot trial.  Authors: Kjellgren A, Bood SA, Axelsson K, Norlander T, Saatcioglu F.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

      Scientists from the Penn State College of Medicine conducted a study of 105 children between the ages 2 and 18.  All were suffering from nighttime coughs from respiratory illnesses.

       The data analyzed included cough frequency and severity, how bothersome the cough was and how well parent and child slept.

        Naturally occurring honey was found to be the best remedy – working 20% better than a cough medicine (dextromethorphan) and 40% better than no treatment.       

      The results of this study are particularly timely.  This is because the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently recommended that children under the age of six years old should not be given over the counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines.  The FDA has received data that these OTC drugs could  have potentially harmful side effects.        For example, some children who have been taking the cough medicine Tamiflu have exhibited “bizarre behavior.”  This includes self-inflicted injuries and jumping from windows.         This study shows that natural honey may be an appropriate substitute.