A spoonful or two of vinegar a day may boost your levels of good cholesterol.

Researchers believe that people who consume apple cider vinegar for eight weeks will have improved levels of good or HDL cholesterol compared with those given a placebo.

A clinical trial, conducted by the University of Minnesota, US, has been looking at 120 people, half of whom had the vinegar while the others were given a placebo containing a two per cent balsamic vinegar solution in water, reports the Daily Mail .

Apple cider vinegar, a common kitchen remedy for arthritis and gout, has already been shown to lower blood sugar levels and reduce appetite, according to a Minnesota statement.

A separate study based on animals with diabetes, has already shown that apple cider vinegar lowered levels of bad cholesterol and improved good cholesterol.

It’s thought that vinegar speeds up the processing of fats.

Most of us have seen or heard about that controversial video former Hannah Montana star, Miley Cyrus taking hits from a bong filled with salvia, an herbal drug that’s legal in most states, but now raising concerns by lawmakers and parents alike.

Since that video surfaced, sales of salvia have gone up three times. One politician in California, where Cyrus was captured smoking it, is now calling for an all-out ban.

“The affects that it produces are completely different than any other drug we really know about,” said Dr. Adi Jaffe, an addiction psychologist out of Los Angeles.

Speaking via Skype Dr. Jaffe said depending on how you use it, the effects of salvia hits you within 30 seconds, but what you’ll feel for the next 15 or so minutes that it lasts is nothing like the euphoric highs associated with other drugs.

“It causes discomfort, depression, anxiety – not exactly the kinds of things you really want to do drugs because of,” he said.

Which is probably why, he says, there hasn’t been much concern to ban it, until now?

Even before the infamous Miley Cyrus video he says more and more clips started popping up on You-Tube of people trying it and Cyrus’ public use has taken it to the next level.

“No doubt when someone as young as Miley Cyrus, who has fans who are 13-14 years old, I’m pretty sure we’re going to get parents even more involved,” Jaffe said.

Here’s the good news, the high you get from this herbal drug, that’s similar to mint leafs, is so uncomfortable he said, most try it once and never use it again, so abuse is really not really a concern.

What has him alarmed are the potential risks people may take while under its influence.

“This is an extreme drug that really changes your perception of reality,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there is bill to make this drug Illegal in a month or so.”

Jaffe said if there is any good to this video surfacing, it could be a great tool for parents to get the conversation started about drugs.

Jaffe is the founder of the website All About Addiction.com, for more information click the link.

The stock of biotech company Amarin (Nasdaq: AMRN) has quadrupled this year. That’s because data released from the phase-three trial of its fish oil drug, AMR101, suggests that it may be a wonder drug with huge potential.

It seems the highly purified and concentrated fish oil lowered triglyceride levels by as much as 33 percent, without raising “bad” LDL cholesterol levels.

This isn’t great news for GlaxoSmithKline, which has a prescription-grade fish oil drug, Lovaza, on the market that has brought in $590 million through the first three quarters of 2010. Lovaza, however, raises bad cholesterol levels, which limits its use to just patients with very high triglyceride levels.

Amarin is running another phase-three trial now, with patients who have intermediately high triglyceride levels. Passing that trial could put AMR101 in the multibillion-dollar drug category.

The drug’s biggest issue may be patent protection. The company believes patent protection may be extended to 2030, but that may not happen. Thus, the biggest long-term winner from AMR101 may turn out to be generic-drug makers.

Investors can worry about that later, though. For now, let’s see whether this next trial turns out well. (The Fool owns shares of and has written covered calls on GlaxoSmithKline, which is a “Motley Fool Global Gains” pick.)

via Motley Fool

Feeling some pain and getting sick are all part of aging. One of the most common illnesses is inflammation, which is a response of body tissues to injury, infection or irritation; characterized by pain and swelling and redness and heat. The good news is that you can do something about it so you can ease the discomfort, recover and get back to living and enjoying life. With proper diet and exercise, illnesses can even be avoided!

For this reason, many are looking for ways to help win the battle against aging and its ill-effects. While having the right diet and amount of exercise will do wonders for your health, it’s comforting to know that there’s one item that can help boost your health further and that is fish oil.

Much has been said about the heart benefits offered by fish oil. But there’s more to what fish oil can do to the body. For instance, fish oil combats inflammation, and the ability to help reduce inflammation is perhaps one of the most valuable benefits of the Omega-3 Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) & Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) essential fatty acids found in fish oil.

Inflammation is associated with many serious diseases like heart disease, cancer, autoimmune diseases, psoriasis, and Alzheimer’s, for example, are characterized by increased levels of pro-inflammatory markers. DHA & EPA fatty acids from fish oil reduce inflammation by preventing production of pro-inflammatory signaling molecules. This may help to prevent serious illness associated with inflammation.

The many health benefits being offered by fish oil can be attributed to the essential DHA & EPA fatty acids. Omega 3 is also present in plants in the form of alpha-linolenic acid or ALA, but this is less unsaturated and has less potent health effects than EPA and DHA. While the body can convert ALA to EPA, it does so very inefficiently and almost no DHA is made from ALA.

Fish oil is also effective in reducing the symptoms and pain of arthritis. Morning stiffness and joint tenderness was shown to decrease with regular intake of fish oil supplements. Fish oil does not act as a painkiller, and it takes regular use before a difference is noticed. However, fish oil is a viable, natural way to reduce the pain and

symptoms associated with arthritis if one is dedicated to the long term outcome rather than focused on immediate cessation of symptoms.

We all want beautifully thick, glossy hair that shines like a shampoo commercial.

But how do we get and keep those silky locks when we’re swimming in saltwater and straightening our hair?

It’s easy, say the experts: you are what you eat. A balanced diet of protein, vitamins and minerals is the best way to get all the nutrients needed for a healthy body, skin and hair.

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BUILDING BLOCKS
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Essential fatty acids: Omega-3 and omega-6 improve hair texture, while deficiencies in both can cause dandruff and dull hair.

Naturopathic nutritionist Jan Purser says nuts, seeds, olive oil and avocados are rich in fatty acids.

“We should all be eating enough oily fish like salmon, sardines or mackerel, or taking fish oil supplements, because it helps on all sorts of levels,” Purser says. “What goes on inside your body directly affects how your hair grows.”

Tip: Eat fish three times a week.

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Zinc: A zinc deficiency can affect hair growth and cause it to fall out and be brittle, so make sure you include zinc in your diet. The best sources are mussels, oysters, lamb, pumpkin seed kernels, eggs, legumes, cheese, cashews and pine nuts.

Tip: Take a 15- to 20-milligram zinc supplement daily, particularly if you notice your hair is falling out or you have white spots on your fingernails.

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Protein: Hair is made up almost entirely of protein. Its two primary components are keratin and collagen.

Nutritionist Lilli Ng says a diet low in protein can lead to poor formation of these components, resulting in thin, brittle hair.

“Choose lean cuts of meat trim fat off before cooking,” Ng says. “Meat is also high in zinc, which is required for protein synthesis and growth.”

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Vegetarian proteins include tofu, legumes, seaweed, nuts and seeds. Eggs are a good source of protein and also include a range of essential nutrients.

Tip: Protein shakes are a good option – blend with ground flaxseeds, mixed berries and banana.

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Vitamin C: Improves scalp circulation and hair growth. Food sources include strawberries, kiwifruit, coconut juice, broccoli, red capsicum (lightly cooked) and freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice.

Tip: For a good therapeutic dose of vitamin C, take 1000 milligrams once or twice  a day.

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Vitamin E: Helps improve scalp circulation, prevents hair loss and split ends, nourishes the scalp and repairs damage to hair. Vitamin E is found in wheat germ, wheat germ oil, muesli, olive oil, sunflower oil, nuts and seeds.

Tip: Cut sugar from your diet to give dandruff the flick.

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Rosemary: Traditionally used to treat hair loss, rosemary stimulates hair growth and promotes regeneration of tired, lifeless hair.

Tip: Add 15 to 20 drops of rosemary oil into your shampoo or conditioner and shake well before using on lifeless hair.

via heraldsun

Eating blueberries and other purple fruit and vegetables can keep Alzheimer’s at bay because they are a rich source of chelators, scientists say.

Chelators bind the loosely configured iron molecules in the body and prevent them from producing dangerous toxins, called hydroxyl radicals, which trigger degenerative illnesses like Alzheimer’s.

Prof. Douglas Kell, a bioanalytical scientist at the University of Manchester, led the ground-breaking research, reports the journal Archives of Toxicology.

Kell argues that the means by which poorly-liganded (banded) iron accelerates the onset of debilitating diseases shows up areas in which the traditional thinking is flawed.

For instance, Vitamin C is thought to be of great benefit to the body’s ability to defend itself against toxins and diseases.

However, Kell indicates that excess vitamin C can in fact have the opposite effect if unliganded iron is present. Only when iron is suitably and safely bound (‘chelated’) will vitamin C work.

Kell said: ‘Much of modern biology has been concerned with the role of different genes in human disease.

‘The importance of iron may have been missed because there is no gene for iron as such. What I have highlighted in this work is therefore a crucial area for further investigation, as many simple predictions follow from my analysis,’ he said.

Most of the low and middle-income countries suffer from Vitamin A deficiency. People whose diets do not include enough of the vitamin may have impaired body functions, and be more susceptible to blindness, infection and early death.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends vitamin A supplements for pregnant mothers and children but recently controversies raised regarding the effectiveness of vitamin A supplementation programmes in developing countries.

The 43 trials were included in the review, which involved 215,633 children between six months and five years of age. All except one trial used the standard dose of vitamin A as recommended by the WHO.

Overall, giving vitamin A capsules reduced the risk of death from any cause by 24 per cent compared to placebos or usual treatment. This equates to saving the lives of almost a million vitamin A deficient children a year.

The review by Cochrane researchers suggests that much of the beneficial effect vitamin A supplementation in developing countries may be related to prevention of measles and diarrhoea.

“Giving vitamin A is associated with a reduction in the incidence of diarrhoea and measles, as well as the number of child deaths due to these diseases,” said Zulfiqar Bhutta of Aga Khan University in Pakistan and the senior reviewer of the project.

“However, the effects of supplementation on disease pathways are not well understood, so this could be a focus for further studies,” he added.

The researchers strongly recommend continuation of vitamin A supplementation programs in children under five, but recognize that this it is not a permanent solution to the problem of vitamin A deficiency.

Via timesofinida

AN apple turns brown or a nail gets rusty due to oxidation. The same process occurs within us. We do not change colour or become rusty, but the tell tale signs come later as “wear and tear” in ageing, poor health, or chronic diseases.

We often blame our genes for our maladies, but environmental factors and lifestyle choices account for as much as 70% for the apple inside us turning brown too fast, too soon.

If we smear some lemon juice on a cut half of an apple, the browning process is retarded as the lemon slows down the oxidation process, hence conferring an antioxidant effect to the apple.

As we are more complex than an apple, smearing ourselves with lemon just would not work!

Antioxidants were first applied in industrial use two centuries ago to protect materials such as rubber from degradation, and was later introduced to preserve certain foods and oils to extend shelf life.

It was only 60 years ago that its significance in human physiology was recognised.

But doctors were so busy battling diseases that, until recently, the protective role of antioxidants has not been fully appreciated.

To be honest, yours truly had no idea what they really were. My only knowledge of antioxidants was restricted to oranges and wine. I thought “free radicals” was a new political party!

We now know that they are the culprits in causing oxidation within us, and antioxidants neutralise them.

The word antioxidants conjures much excitement and sometimes emotions as there are many claims and counter claims. Earlier studies showed great promise on health, later ones disputed that, and on it goes like a yo-yo. The subject is extremely confusing and this discussion tries to put them into separate baskets for ease of mental digestion.

There is a plethora of antioxidants in our foods, chiefly found in fruits and vegetables: the more coloured and pigmented, the richer it is in antioxidant content.

Variety is the key to good health and the more the merrier. The American Cancer Society recommends at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day to prevent cancer. Trying to keep the doctor away by having an apple a day is a myth … it is not enough! One can try five, and that still would not be enough.

To illustrate: the level of vitamin E known to effectively combat oxidative stress is 400IU. If one eats spinach only or has a girlfriend called Olive, the poor fellow has to consume 12.7kg of the vegetable to get the optimal level of vitamin E.

Apart from indigestion, Popeye probably has staghorn kidney stones, considering the amount of oxalates found in spinach.

Unlike Homo sapiens, antioxidants work in a synergistic fashion. Each is like an instrument in a philharmonic orchestra, playing the right note, at the right pitch and tempo, and supporting the other performers elegantly. The flawless symphony within is the key to anti-ageing and prevention of chronic diseases.

Some are water-soluble and work only in fluid compartments; some are fat-soluble, protecting the lipids in cell membranes. Some work outside the cells, and some only within.

The brain is a private club allowing entry only to members of valued standing. Among the select antioxidants that has an entry ticket is vitamin C and a family of powerful protectors known as OPC (oligomeric proanthocyanidins, found in grapeseed extract). Together they form a duet in quelling free radicals in the headquarters of our very existence.

As much has been unraveled about the role of antitoxidants, it is now no longer relegated to the cloakroom of science or the twilight zone of alternative medicine. It is only the naive or the incalcitrant mind that rejects its significance. We were already endowed with it when man first walked the earth, and he had the foresight to eat apples as an additional booster, as ancient script goes.

The dreaded free radical that brings forth harm is known as “superoxide”, an unstable oxygen molecule, resulting from churning up energy in the body. To render this harmless, our cells possess an antioxidant enzyme called superoxide dismutase. Together with catalase and glutathione peroxidase, they complete the job of snuffing out the smoke, thereby preventing the free radicals from wantonly zapping our cells.

On top of this, our body also produces co-enzyme Q10, which is an in-house antioxidant in the power plant (mitochondria) within our cells. It recruits a helper in the form of alpha-lipoic acid to clean up the mess.

Did you know that uric acid is also an antioxidant? This is not a reason to gobble down pots of meat – bone tea (literal hokkien translation) in excess will cause a pretty painful joint, or worse, excruciating back pain with blood in the urine due to kidney stones.

The moral of the story: do not raise the level of the wrong antioxidant. Not all things natural are always good.

Primary antioxidants

Early research centred around vitamins A, C and E, which are collectively known as primary antioxidants. They are called essential nutrients because the human body cannot do without them. Since we cannot manufacture vitamins, they must be derived from the diet.

The plant form of vitamin A is called beta-carotene (a pro vitamin), found in carrots, papaya, berries, pumpkins, etc. The body converts this precursor to vitamin A as and when it is needed. However, too much intake will cause harmless discolouration of the palms. Both vitamins A and E are fat-soluble, thus preventing the oxidation of lipids within the cell membrane.

On the other hand, vitamin C is water-soluble and mops up the free radical burden from the blood.

Supporting antioxidants

Under this category are the “others”. They are not absolutely a must, but do a whole lot of good if they are available. The bioflavanoids, carotenoids, and polyphenols are essentially derived from plants and are collectively called phytonutrients. The number of compounds within these groups is mind boggling and only a few are highlighted for enlightenment.

> OPC (oligomeric proanthocyanidins), found in seeds of the red grape (commercially as grape seed extract), is a potent antioxidant, aiding in the ridding of free radicals both in the water and fat compartments of the body.

> Isoflavones derived from soy offers itself as a weak oestrogen, and relieves menopausal symptoms.

> Lycopene is found in tomatoes but enriched when pureed. It has been found to reduce the risk of bladder cancer.

> Lutein, found in dark green leafy vegetables, protect the eyes and slow down the onset and progression of a chronic eye disease (macular degeneration).

> Quercetin is derived from fruits, grains, and vegetables.

> Catechins found in tea is an excellent antioxidant.

The list is exhaustive and includes gingko biloba, zexanthine, hesperidin, etc.

> The quintet: Five good friends form an antioxidant network, namely vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, alpha-lipoic acid, and finally CoQ10. They support each other by interactive regeneration. When vitamin C has done its job, instead of being discarded, it is reactivated by vitamin E. Gluthathione regenerates vitamin E. Alpha-lipoic acid recycles coenzyme Q10. Together, this five-piece quintet harmoniously delivers a masterpiece.

> The antioxidant minerals: These are not themselves antioxidants but help to replenish the endogenous antioxidant status. Selenium (found in shell-fish, eggs, chicken, garlic, etc) is needed to build up the level of glutatione. Manganese, copper, and zinc are trace minerals which help to boost up the level of superoxide dismutase.

Science is only beginning to unravel the many intricate mysteries within us, so there will necessarily be debates as illustrated by the many conflicting views that is beyond the scope of this discussion.

Suffice to point out that applying drug study models and expecting each antioxidant to work independently like a pharmacological agent in sick patients is illogical and often produces the contradictory results that we rant about. Antioxidants are not drugs and are part of the body’s defence and healing system. Until there is a full appraisal of this wondrous orchestra without leaving out a single instrument, we may never hear the true music.

We can view antioxidants in three concentric rings. Replenishing the inner circle of natural antioxidants takes centre stage, followed by the middle circle of primary antioxidants, and finally giving the outer circle (“the others” supporting antioxidants) its deserved attention.

Most people rave about a new discovery in “the others” category as the next magic bullet, and we have all seen quite a few of these. Incidentally, selenium created a wave of interest in 2002, following a study that revealed that men taking 200ug of the mineral a day seem to have lower incidence of prostate and colon cancer.

A sales representative tried to promote the supplement two years later and asked if I had heard about this study. I can remember the incredulous look on his face when I said “No”. I almost chased him out of my room. Thinking aloud then, I wondered how this guy had the guts to sell a nutritional supplement to a doctor.

Today, if I ever have the opportunity to meet him again, I would apologise and thank him. To many of my friends, I have this advice – do not let naivety and scepticism cheat you of good health.

Being both naive and sceptical, I paid the full fare for my folly. Fortunately, not too long ago, I heard the beautiful symphony of the antioxidants and I now share the notes with you. If our car needs anti-rust, so do we!

via thestar

Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin. It is a powerful antioxidant. Vitamin E is necessary for healthy functioning of the immune system.

Vitamin E protects against free radicals, which can break down the collagen and elastin in skin. This could help prevent the damage to the skin that causes stretch marks. Vitamin E also aids in cell regeneration. This property could help replace the scar tissue with healthy tissue, thus fading the stretch marks. But there is not enough evidence that Vitamin E helps to prevent or reduce stretch marks.

Vitamin E can be used for stretch marks-

Many creams and lotions contain vitamin E. Many of these creams are marketed specifically for stretch marks. These creams can be used as directed on the package.

Vitamin E is also available in the form of capsules. These vitamin E capsules can be broken open and the liquid inside these capsules may then be applied to the skin directly or by mixing it with some cream. You can apply this 2-3 times daily.

Side effects-

Side effects with topical use of Vitamin E are very rare. Side effects could include itching or burning of skin or appearance of a rash. Consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

Vitamin D and calcium have long been touted as the best nutrients for strong bones, muscles and teeth. Recent studies have shown that vitamin D could be used to fight cancer, heart ailments, autoimmune diseases, even diabetes.

But too much vitamin D can damage the kidneys and the heart. So what’s the right balance?

After reviewing nearly 1,000 published studies on vitamin D and calcium, the Institute of Medicine on Tuesday recommended that most Americans and Canadians up to age 70, who are not pregnant, need no more than 600 international units (IUs) of vitamin D per day to maintain good health. People over age 70 may need as much as 800 IUs.

Vitamin D controls genes for cancer, autoimmune disease
A three-ounce serving of canned tuna contains about 200 IUs, the standard unit for vitamin D and many other nutrients.

The Institute of Medicine, an independent nonprofit agency, serves as an adviser to the U.S. government to improve health.

The agency’s calcium recommendations vary based on age and pregnancy, and range from 700 to 1,300 milligrams per day. One cup of whole milk, for instance, contains around 300 milligrams of calcium.
How vitamins E, D help the brain

“When making these recommendations, we took into account the study data, looking at national surveys of blood levels,” said Catharine Ross, professor of nutritional sciences, Penn State University, University Park, and chairman of the committee that set the recommendations.

“The blood levels indicate how much vitamin D you have in your blood, based on the amount of sunlight you are exposed to, how much vitamin D and calcium you have in your diet, and what type of supplements you are taking.”
The committee surprisingly found the majority of Americans and Canadians are getting enough vitamin D and calcium. Some adolescent girls may not get quite enough calcium, and some elderly may fall short of the necessary amounts of calcium and vitamin D. These individuals should increase their intake of foods containing these nutrients.

Sunlight is the best source of vitamin D, but not everyone receives the same exposure. According to the intitute, the new guidelines for vitamin D cover the needs of individuals who get little sun.

The minimum recommended amount of daily sunlight depends on your skin pigmentation. White people should get not less than 5 minutes without sunscreen. People of color should get 15 to 20 minutes. There is no recommended maximum.

Nutritionists recommend getting the rest of your vitamin D and calcium through foods, such as oily fish (salmon, tuna), milk, mushrooms, egg yolks and fortified cereal.

Daily supplements are also helpful, but experts advise people to pay attention to how much they’re taking. Because people are becoming more aware of their diets and more individuals are taking supplements, the chance is higher that people may consume too much of these nutrients. Getting too much vitamin D can be dangerous and has been associated with kidney stones as well as damage to the kidneys and the heart.

“No one can overdose from sun exposure because of the way the body processes it. And too much of these nutrients in your diet is highly unlikely,” noted Ross. “People can take too many supplements. That’s why we made these recommendations.”

Ross also noted that while the report found most of the data confirmed that calcium and vitamin D do play a huge role in skeletal growth and keeping up good bone health, they could not find strong evidence that vitamin D protected the body against cancer, heart disease, autoimmune diseases and diabetes.

Lack of vitamin D linked to whites’ stroke death
“While we found these studies point to the need for further investigation on the role of vitamin D and these illnesses, ” said Ross, “we found conflicting and actually mixed results in these studies on the effects of vitamin D on these conditions.”

Katherine Tallmadge, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association supports the call for more research.
“In its most recent recommendation, the [Institute of Medicine] has established the level they believe will protect bones,” Tallmadge said. “More studies need to be conducted to validate if we need to recommend higher levels of vitamin D supplementation or higher levels in the blood for protection of other diseases which have recently come to light.”

For now, Ross said she believes the guidelines are the best way for people to get the most out of vitamin D and calcium without causing problems.

“We scrutinized the evidence, looking for indications of beneficial effects at all levels of intake,” Ross said. “Amounts higher than those specified in this report are not necessary to maintain bone health.”

via cnn