A German study published in the journal, Circulation, found that acupuncture significantly lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The extent of the blood pressure reductions by acupuncture treatments was comparable to those seen with antihypertensive medication or aggressive lifestyle changes, including radical salt restrictions.

Source: Circulation, June 2007

Editor’s Note: Nutrients that help lower high blood pressure include coleus forskohlii, omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10, Vitamin C, Taurine and Arginine for example. For more information on lowering blood pressure naturally, go to www.naturaleyecare.com/diseases.asp?d_num=40

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Australian scientists at Melbourne’s Deakin University confirm a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can protect the brain from developing Alzheimers disease.

Its protective powers stem from an ability to regulate the brain’s natural level of zinc, which can prove toxic at elevated levels, cellular biologist and project leader Professor Leigh Ackland said last Tuesday.

They found that when the level of DHA in neuronal cells drops, the level of zinc rises (Omega-3 fatty acids contain a combination of EPA, DHA and alpha linoleic acid).

Previous research had shown a reduced incidence of neurodegenerative diseases in populations with a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.

Editor’s Note: DHA is found most commonly in cold water fatty fish while a vegetarian source can be derived from seaweed.

For more related information, Click Here

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Avoid trans fats, found largely in commercially prepared baked and fried foods, These fats not only raise “bad” LDL cholesterol, but also lower levels of heart-healthy HDL cholesterol.  High trans-fat intake has been linked to coronary heart disease, in which fatty plaques build up in the heart arteries, sometimes leading to a heart attack.

The food industry has been widely replacing trans fats with intersterified fat, another unnatural fat to completely avoid.

The interesterification process hardens fat, similar to the hydrogenation process, but without producing oils that contain trans fats. The end product, like trans fat, is less likely to go rancid and is stable enough to use to fry foods.

However, like hydrogenation which generates unnatural trans fats, interesterification also produces molecules that do not exist in nature.

Studies show that interesterified fat raises your blood glucose and depresses insulin production. These conditions are common precursors to diabetes, and can present an even more immediate danger if you already have the disease (Nutrition & Metabolism 2007, 4:3doi:10.1186/1743-7075-4-3)

Editor’s Note: Stay with healthy fats such as olive oil, and even saturated fats in moderation such as butter or coconut oil.

To round out your healthy fat intake, be sure to eat raw fats, such as those from avocados, raw dairy products, and olive oil, and also take a high-quality source of animal-based omega-3 fat, or if vegetarian, supplement with Krill oil.

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A report appearing in the December 2009 issue of the American
Psychological Association journal Behavioral Neuroscience revealed
that diets that fail to provide enough of the omega-3 fatty acids
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may
negatively affect the nervous system. The finding could impact
the understanding of information-processing deficits that occur
in schizophrenia, bipolar disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder,
attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Huntington’s
disease and other nervous system disorders.

Editor’s Note: Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the super nutrients that help protect the heart, eyes, brain and are used by every cell in the body. For more information on eye health and omega-3 fatty acids, see the “Research” section at Natural Eye Care Research

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Two new University of Illinois studies report that lunasin, a soy
peptide often discarded in the waste streams of soy-processing
plants, may have important health benefits that include fighting
leukemia and blocking the inflammation that accompanies such
chronic health conditions as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, heart
disease, and stroke (see also University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign).

In another study, the first to report lunasin’s potential
anti-inflammatory activity, they showed that lunasin blocked or
reduced the activation of an important marker called NF-kappa-B,
a link in the chain of biochemical events that cause inflammation.

Lunasin’s bioavailability in the human body was confirmed by doing a
third study in which men consumed 50 grams of soy protein–one soy
milk shake and a serving of soy chili daily–for five days.

Editor’s Note1: Note that soy flour does contain high concentrations of the peptide.
Editor’s Note2: Chronic systemic inflammation can cause or contribute to many eye conditions such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, macula edema, optic neuritis, uveitis and iritis for example. Chronic inflammation is now considered a major contributor to heart disease as well.

For more information on ways to help manage inflammation nutritionally, Click Here

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A new study reinforces the role that Vitamin D plays in preventing colds and other respiratory tract infections. 

Researchers using data from 18,883 participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that Vitamin D could boost immunity to colds, even after adjusting for demographic and clinical factors such as season, body mass index, and smoking history.  The study, published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine reinforces the importance of Vitamin D in avoiding upper respiratory tract infections. 

Vitamin D is produced by the body when exposed to direct sunlight.   It is crucial for people with limited sun exposure (such as during winter months) to include Vitamin D in their diet.  Good sources of Vitamin D include fatty fish, fish liver oils, and eggs.

SOURCE;  Association Between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Ginde, et al, Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(4):384-390.

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There are several foods that help loer cholesterol levels such
as oat bran. It lowers LDL (”bad cholesterol”) because it contains soluble
fiber. So do fruits like apples, along with Walnuts. In some people, walnuts can make a
big difference as they contain “good fats” that push cholesterol numbers down.
Omega-3 fatty acids found in food such as salmon, flax seed and fish oil pills
reduce cholesterol. Olive oil is excellent to add to your diet, especially if it is
replacing unhealthy fats such as vegetable oils and saturated fats. Other nutrients that
lower cholesterol include Red Rice Yeast and Nattokinase which is a fibrinolytic enzyme
produced from Natto, a Japanese fermented soy food.

For more related information related to lowering cholesterol naturally, Click Here

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Adding flaxseed oil to the diet may reduce risk of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and women with diabetes, according to new research published in the International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition, and Public Health.

In a study using laboratory rats, researchers have found that flaxseed oil has a beneficial effect on bone mineral density and reduces markers associated with osteoporosis, suggesting that this dietary supplement may help women with diabetes in reducing their risk of osteoporosis.

Study authors believe that the presence of n-3 fatty acids in flaxseed oil may play a role in protecting the processes of matrix formation and bone mineralization, which are compromised by diabetes and menopause. Further trials with humans are recommended to confirm the effects on bone health, but the implications for use in osteoporosis prevention are encouraging.

Source:  Elwassef, et al, Impact of feeding flaxseed oil on delaying the development of osteoporosis in ovariectomised diabetic rats, International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health 2009 - Vol. 2, No.2  pp. 189 - 201.

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Researchers from the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) report that a naturally occurring compound found in broccoli and broccoli sprouts may protect against inflammation of the respiratory tract that is linked to the diseases like asthma, allergic rhinitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Sulforaphane, a chemical in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables including Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale and bok koy, increases antioxidant enzymes in the human airway.  Broccoli sprouts, the immature version of the well-known vegetable, are the richest natural source of sulforaphane.  Broccoli sprouts can contain 50 times more sulforaphane than mature broccoli.

Researchers gave 65 volunteers varying amounts of either broccoli or a placebo for three days.  After three days, participants who consumed the broccoli sprouts doses of 100 grams and more had significant increases of antioxidant enzymes in their nasal airway cells compared with the placebo group. The participants who took the maximum broccoli sprout dosage of 200 grams generated more than a 100% increase of an antioxidant enzyme called GSTP1 and nearly 200% increase of another key enzyme called NQO1.

Study authors cannot yet recommend a specific dosage of sulforaphane, but they strongly recommend including broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables as part of a healthy diet.

SOURCE:  Broccoli may help protect against respiratory conditions like asthma, UCLA Newsroom, http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/broccoli-may-help-protect-against-81667.aspx

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An observational 10-year study of more than 35,000 middle-aged U.S. women observed the women’s use of dietary supplements and occurrence of cataracts.*

The study found significant evidence that women who got more lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin E were less likely to develop cataracts than women who are lacking intake of these nutrients. In fact, the women who got the most lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin E were 18% less likely to get cataracts.

*Christen, W. Archives of Ophthalmology, January 2008; vol 126: pp 102-109

For more related information, go to Natural Eye Care for Cataracts

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