Green Tea Shown to Help Lower Bad Cholesterol. In a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers examined data from 20 clinical trials and found that individuals who drank green tea or took a green tea supplement daily showed a 5 to 6 point drop in LDL cholesterol when compared with individuals who consumed a placebo. Green tea in beverage form was found to be more effective than green tea in supplement form.
Multivitamins may slow cognitive decline. Researchers from Australia found that an herbal supplement combining more than 50 vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and plant extracts may improve memory in mature women. After 16 weeks, the group that took the herbal supplement showed higher mental functioning, as measured by response times during memory and attention tasks. The researchers also noted a decrease in homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is an amino acid that is associated with dementia.
Tart Cherry Juice Shown to Relieve Knee Pain. A study published in Arthritis Care & Research found that drinking two 8 ounce bottles of tart cherry juice daily helped ease the symptoms of arthritis of the knee. The researchers noted improved WOMAC scores (an index used to measure pain and stiffness) and significantly decreased hsCRP levels, a measure of inflammation.
