Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

According to a recent study conducted in Switzerland, olive leaf extract may help reduce cholesterol and blood pressure levels. High blood pressure – or hypertension – affects almost 1 of every 3 American adults and is a significant risk factor for heart disease and cardiac events.

In the study, researchers from Israeli food and beverage company, Frutarom, recruited 20 sets of identical twins with borderline high blood pressure. One twin from each pair was given a placebo while the other was assigned either 500mg or 1,000mg of an olive leaf extract.

By using identical twins, the researchers hoped to remove outside influences on the study which could be triggered by genetic variations in people.

The study ran for eight weeks and participants were measured for weight, heart rate, blood pressure and lipid levels every two weeks. The results are published in the August 2008 issue of Phytotherapy Research.

At the conclusion of study, researchers saw an 11mmHg decrease in systolic and 5mmHg decrease in diastolic blood pressure among the group that received 1,000mg of olive leaf extract when compared to the control. No significant changes were found in participants who received the 500mg supplement.

While all groups showed a decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol, the results seemed to be dose-dependent.

According to researchers, these positive benefits could be the result of a compound called oleuropein, a chemical compound found in olive trees. Oleuropein is thought to inhibit the replication process of many pathogens, possibly because of its antioxidant properties. The compound has also been linked to enhanced immune system function.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

According to a new study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service, healthy eating habits can quickly be derailed by stress, hunger and demanding schedules.

This recent research indicates that people are more likely to eat unhealthy meals and consume greater calories when experiencing longer gaps between meals, eat away from home, or work longer hours.

The study tested a model built by the USDA based on data from several previous surveys. It was designed to measure how people’s long term health objectives were affected by short term situations like a lack of free time, hunger, and stress.

Using the model, researchers analyzed the diets of people who consumed an average of 2,000 calories per day. They found that when the time between meals increased from four to five hours people consumed 52 more calories. Waiting six hours per meal was associated with a 91 calorie increase. Researchers also noted that the extended time between meals coupled with high stress levels increased this negative affect.

This study shows that our best intentions are sometimes hindered by time constraints which can lead to less healthy eating options. Planning is an important step to making sure your long term goals are not being sabotaged by daily realities. Preparing meals to take to work, sticking to a schedule, keeping healthy snacks around and allowing time for healthy meals are all good ways to stay on the right track.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

Researchers from the Yale School of Medicine and Japan recently released the results of a study which found that a mushroom extract called Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) can strengthen the immune system and may also have anti-cancer properties.

AHCC is made up mostly of polysaccharides, which are a class of carbohydrates. It has been used by Japanese health professionals since the late 1980s to boost the immune system and is one of the most popular immune-enhancing supplements in Japan.

In order to determine the effectiveness of the extract, researchers measured the production of two cytokines, Interferon (IFN-y) and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-a), for 30 and 60 days. Cytokines are produced by white blood cells and help regulate the body’s response to disease and infection by preventing the growth of abnormal cells. Accordingly, higher cytokine levels are associated with increased immune defenses.

Researchers found that production of IFN-y and TNF-a increased within four weeks of taking AHCC and continued for up to four weeks after consumption stopped. The results were presented to over 300 Medical Professionals at the 16th International AHCC Symposium in Sapporo, Japan, last month.

According to one of the presenters, Professor Emeritus Yasuo Kamiyama of Kensai Medical University, AHCC can work particularly well as a complementary medicine to pharmaceuticals for cancer patients who develop complications.

There have been over 300 clinical studies performed to test the effectiveness of AHCC. More research needs to be done to confirm these results but the findings do add to a growing body of evidence that shows AHCC can play a significant role in strengthening the immune system.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

Tree nuts such as almonds, cashews, pecans and pistachios have been found to decrease the risk of heart disease and diabetes, according to a study published in the September 2008 issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

Tree nuts are known to be a rich source of magnesium and vitamin E and have been a part of our diet for thousands of years, in fact, records of eating pistachios have been found dating all the way back to the stone age. According to data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) about a third of Americans today report eating tree nuts and of that third the average daily consumption is about half of the recommended 1.5 oz.

That may be one reason why 90% of Americans don’t consume the recommended amount of vitamin E and fall short of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for magnesium as well. Vitamin E is an important antioxidant which has been shown to protect immune function as well as prevent oxidative damage to cells. Magnesium is an equally important mineral and low intakes can result in risk of osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.

In addition to being a rich source of magnesium and vitamin E tree nuts also provide fiber, protein and beneficial phytochemicals. Numerous studies have associated phytochemicals, found naturally in plants, with antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties.

In order to get more nuts in our diet it is important to look at the role they play. Currently in the food pyramid, nuts are included in the meat group but very few people actually consume tree nuts as a substitute for meat. With 60% of nuts in the United States consumed in the form of snack food, it may be advantageous to replace unhealthy snacks such as chips and candy bars with raw, unsalted tree nuts.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

A new study from Italy adds support to several others which show that organic plant flavonoids may have powerful anti-cancer properties. In this latest round of research, scientists found that the consumption of two types of flavonoids decreased the risk of ovarian cancer in women.

Flavonoids are a type of polyphenol high in antioxidants. It’s this antioxidant content that researchers believe give flavonoids, and the foods in which they are found, powerful cancer fighting properties.

For the recent study, published in the August 2008 issue of the International Journal of Cancer, scientists reviewed data from a study conducted in Italy between 1992 and 1999. They compared flavanoid intake among 1,031 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer to 2,411 women who had been hospitalized for acute, non-cancer related systems.

The researchers measured the intake of six different types of flavonoids and found that two – flavonols and isoflavons – were associated with a decreased risk of ovarian cancer. Flavonols are abundant in many fruits and vegetables while isoflavons can be found in soy products and tea.

After adjusting their findings for outside influences like birth control use and family health history the researchers identified that women with the highest flavonol intake had a 37% decrease in risk for ovarian cancer. High isoflavon intake was associated with a 49% decrease.

In addition to being high in antioxidants, researchers believe that isoflavons may also help decrease ovarian cancer risk by blocking excess estrogen.

Maintaining a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, eating more soy products and drinking green or white tea are all good ways to increase your consumption of these potential cancer-fighting compounds.

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

New research recently published in the Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment Journal suggest that phytochemicals called flavanols which are found in chocolate, fruits and vegetables may increase blood flow to the brain.

In the recent study, researchers recruited 34 healthy adults between the ages of 59 and 83. The participants were divided into two groups. The first group included 13 people who were given a flavanol rich cocoa drink which they consumed for two weeks. The remaining 21 were randomly assigned to drink either a flavanol rich cocoa beverage or a flavanol poor cocoa beverage for one week.

Researchers analyzed the participant’s blood flow in the middle cerebral artery using an ultrasound. The results from the double-masked, placebo-controlled study found that two weeks of consuming at flavanol rich beverage was associated with a 10% increase in blood flow.

In the second part of the experiment, the group whose study ran one week, 55% of participants drinking the flavanol rich beverage saw an increase in blood flow vs only 10% in the flavanol poor group.

According to researchers, long term improvements in blood flow could lead to improved cognitive function for people with debilitating brain conditions like dementia and stroke. These brain conditions are often characterized by poor blood circulation to the brain, which can cause serious structural damage.

This study is thought to be the first of its kind to examine the acute and short term benefits of flavanols on brain blood flow. More testing needs to be done but these results do add to a growing body of evidence that flavanol rich cocoa may provide a simple dietary means to improve cardiovascular and brain health.

Source: Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment.
Volume 4, Pages 433-440
“Cerebral blood flow response to flavanol-rich cocoa in healthy elderly humans”
Authors: F.A. Sorond, L.A. Lipsitz, N.K. Hollenberg, N.D.L. Fisher

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

A large scale study involving 40 clinics across the United States concluded that Vitamin D deficiency may increase the likelihood of hip fracture among menopausal women by up to 70 per cent.

For the large scale study, researcher’s selected 800 women aged 50-79 from across the country. The average age of the group was 70 and all participants were of the same race. The women were divided evenly between 400 who had suffered hip fractures and 400 who had not.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine analyzed vitamin D levels in the menopausal women by measuring their serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is the form in which vitamin D is stored in the body. Then they monitored the women for an average of seven years.

At the conclusion of the study, researcher’s identified that woman with the lowest levels of Vitamin D had a significantly greater risk for hip fractures than those with the highest levels. Their results seemed to be independent of the number of falls, medications and physical shape of the participants.

This study supports several others that show low vitamin D levels may increase the risk of fractures. A Swedish study in 2005 found that woman with low vitamin D levels had twice the risk of hip fracture. And the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey (a national survey that compiles health information from face-to-face interviews and medical examinations) also identified a link between vitamin D and hip fracture.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin produced naturally in the body with exposure to sunlight. It is not present in many foods although it can be used as an additive. One easy way to increase vitamin D levels without the risk of sun exposure is to use a quality supplement.

Source: Annals of Internal Medicine
August 19, 2008, Volume 149, Number 4, Pages 242-250
“Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations and Risk for Hip Fractures”

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

A new study from researchers at the University of Southampton and the University of Bristol in the UK confirm that a technique developed at the end of the 19th century may provide relief from chronic back pain.

The therapy is called the “Alexander technique” after its inventor, Frederick Alexander. Alexander was a Shakespearean actor from Australia who developed the unique series of movements and postures to align muscles in the head, neck and back.

For the study, published in the August issue of the British Medical Journal, researchers recruited 579 people with recurring lower back pain. The participants were divided into four groups and randomly assigned a therapy thought to combat chronic back pain. The first group underwent normal care (control), the second received six massage sessions, the third practiced six lessons of the Alexander technique while the fourth received 24 lessons.

The participants completed three questionnaires about how back pain affected their daily activities. The first was given at the beginning of the study, the second after three months and the final questionnaire was given one year after the study began.

Researchers used the Roland Morris disability score to quantify the number of activities impaired by pain. After one year, the group that received 24 Alexander technique lessons experienced just three days of pain per month vs 21 days of pain in the control group. The six lesson group experienced 11 days of pain while the massage group saw 14.

One author of the study believes that the Alexander technique benefits are associated with strengthened postural muscles, improved flexibility and decompressing of the spine as a result of the therapy.

Source: BMJ. 2008 Aug 19;337:a884. doi: 10.1136/bmj.a884.
Primary Care Group, Community Clinical Sciences Division, University of Southampton, Aldermoor Health Centre, Southampton SO16 5ST. psl3@soton.ac.uk

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

A new study from researchers in Canada shows that long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for acid reflux and other disorders increases the risk of osteoperosis related fractures. PPIs are a group of drugs that prevent the production of gastric acid in the stomach. Some of the more common brands include Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid. They are some of the most widely used drugs in America. In fact, last year alone American’s spent about $7 billion dollars on medicines that inhibit or eliminate stomach acid. But these drugs may do more harm than good.

This latest study seems to support at least two other large scale studies showing a direct link between the PPIs and the risk of bone fractures.

Researchers conducting the study used administrative claims data to identify patients over age 50 that had a fracture of the hip, spine or wrist between 1996 and 2004. The 15,792 cases they found were matched with 47,289 controls.

The results, published in the August issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal identified that prolonged use of PPIs increased the risk of fracture. Researchers found that after five years of continued PPI use the risk of hip fracture increased by 62%. After seven years the risk of hip fracture nearly quadrupled and the risk of other fractures doubled when compared to the controls.

This study showed the longest period of time to see problems related to PPI use. In 2006 University of Pennsylvania researchers reported that the use of PPIs for one year was associated with a 44% increase in risk of hip fractures. A Danish study showed similar results when researchers analyzed 125,000 with fractures and found that using PPIs for one year, more than doubled the risk of fractures.

More testing is necessary to identify how PPIs increase fracture risk. Some researchers believe that the increased is because PPIs inhibit stomach acid making it difficult for the body to absorb calcium. This could lead to accelerated bone mineral loss and weaker bones.

To learn more about how PPIs work and what you can do to protect yourself from heartburn, acid reflux and ulcers without using these type of drugs check out this free report: http://www.naturecity.com/digestion-report/mistake1.php

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

A new study from researchers at UCLA shows that tai chi has the power to improve sleep quality and duration in older adults. This is exciting news considering that over half of older adults complain of difficulty sleeping.

Tai chi is often referred to as “meditation in motion” and puts emphasis on the fusion between mind and body. It is a non-competitive ancient Chinese martial art that uses a series of poses, stretches and gentle, flowing motions to achieve balance within the practitioner.

In the recent study, researchers recruited 112 older adults aged from 59 to 86. The participants were randomly divided into two groups for the 25 week testing period. The first group practiced in a series of 20 simple tai chi moves while the second group participated in health education classes that focused on stress management, diet and sleep habits.

Participants were asked to rate their sleep before, during and after the study using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a questionnaire that assesses sleep quality, duration and disturbance over the course of a month.

Results are published online ahead of the September 2008 print edition of the journal Sleep and found that the group practicing tai chi saw an improvement in sleep quality and duration. Researchers also noted that participants in this group also reported a reduction in problems associated with poor sleep – like drowsiness and lack of concentration during the day.

Most health professionals will agree that physical activity can improve sleep quality. But sports and high impact exercises aren’t an option for everyone, especially older adults. Because tai chi is a “soft” martial art, it isn’t strenuous and can be practiced by almost anyone. That’s why it is considered perfect for seniors who have difficulty with more rigorous exercise but want to continue being active.