Aronia: Why Has This Wonderful Berry Been Ignored in the USA?
The aronia plant is native to eastern North America and produces violet black berries. You may be familiar with the more common name for aronia berries, which is black chokeberries.
Despite being native to America, we lag behind the rest of the world when it comes to discovering the wonderful health benefits of aronia berries... (read more)
What is the Optimal Vitamin D Range?
Researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, believe they have come closer to establishing an optimal blood level of vitamin D to maximize protection against disease.
The study has not yet been published but was presented at a recent American Heart Association conference... (read more)
Enjoy Premium Quality, Organic Green Tea – FREE from NatureCity!!
Green tea is the best researched of all tea types and offers the most proven health benefits. Here are some of the ways drinking green tea has been found to help your body... (read more)
Q&A with Dr. Perry
Q: Can probiotics help boost my immune health this winter?
A: As you may know, about 80% of your immune system is located in your digestive and gastrointestinal tract or “gut.” So by definition, shoring up your gut health should go a long way to boosting your overall health and immune function.
We now know that maintaining a healthy balance between “good” bacteria and “bad” bacteria is critical for good gut health. Better yet, you can do this by taking a high quality probiotic supplement and consuming cultured and fermented foods.
So which probiotics are best for cold and flu season? Below are the ones that I think have the best scientific backing... (read more)
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.
Kiwi Fruit May Help Lower Blood Pressure. A recent study from Oslo University Hospital in Norway has found that kiwis may help lower blood pressure. While ideal blood pressure is 120/80, the 118 participants in this study had blood pressure in the range of 128/85. Each person was asked to eat either three kiwis or one apple daily for eight weeks. The group that ate kiwi had systolic blood pressure levels that were 3.6 millimeters lower than the group that ate apples. Systolic blood pressure is the upper reading in a blood pressure measurement and it represents the pressure on the heart when it is beating.
Kidney Beans and Artichokes May Help You Feel Fuller. A recent study from the University of Pavia in Italy suggests that a supplement consisting of kidney bean and artichoke extracts may help people feel full, curtailing their desire to eat more. Not only did those taking the supplement report an increase in satiety, but they lost more weight than those taking a placebo. After two months, those taking the supplement lost 6 pounds compared to only 3.5 pounds in those taking a placebo.
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