Popcorn as an Antioxidant
POPCORN AS AN ANTIOXIDANT?
Popcorn consumption – popcorn itself, without any added topping or salt – may help prevent heart disease, cancer and other diseases.
Popcorn, w
hole grains and cereals have long been touted for their beneficial fiber content.
But in an August 19, 2009 study presentation at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, scientists expressed surprise at the level of polyphenols, a type of antioxidant, they discovered in popcorn.
Is Vitamin C from Fresh Fruit Superior?
BLOOD SATURATION OF VITAMIN C MAY BE NEEDED TO AVOID SEVERE TISSUE DEFICIENCY
A study determined that when ascorbate (vitamin C) levels in the blood of mice are below the saturation point, some body tissues can still be severely deficient in this vitamin, including tissues of
the liver, kidney and heart. The study compared tissue levels in lab mice with high, but not saturated, blood levels of ascorbate to tissue levels naturally found in “wild-type mice,” and found the lab mice tissues deficient.
This suggests that even high dietary intakes and high blood levels of ascorbate can result in serious tissue shortages. Also, the study found that consumption of fresh kiwifruit resulted in up to five times more effective delivery of vitamin C to tissues than from ingestion of ascorbate added to water. Although these results may have serious implications for human nutrition, it is important to remember that, so far, this research was conducted only on mice.
This just-released study will not be published until a future issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. However, it is available online now at http://bit.ly/ffRRQQ.
Guess Which Juice Fights Cardiovascular Disease & Infection?
POMEGRANATE JUICE!
STUDY FINDS POMEGRANATE JUICE FIGHTS CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, INFECTION
A new study has concluded that drinking pomegranate juice three times daily for one year reduces the incidence of infections, inflammation, and oxidative stress in chronic kidney disease dialysis patients. (Oxidative stress is an imbalance between the production of chemically-reactive molecules containing oxygen and the body’s ability to detoxify them; oxidation is implicated in numerous diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and heart failure.)
This means that pomegranate juice wards off a number of common complications of kidney dialysis, including a higher mortality rate due to infections and cardiovascular disease. (Cardiovascular disease can result from inflammation.) These findings support other studies that found pomegranate juice has a potent antioxidant effect. Pomegranate juice consumption could produce similar benefits in people with healthy kidneys but further research would be required. The study team stressed the need to monitor potassium levels in any juice taken by kidney patients, especially those with dietary potassium restrictions. This study was presented in Denver on the evening of November 18, 2010 at the 43rd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition of the American Society of Nephrology. It has not yet been published and is not yet available online.
Vitamin C Deficiency & Kidney Problems
A study has found that kidney dysfunction is associated with a low blood level of vitamin C.
Also, low blood levels of vitamin C may cause damage, from greater oxidative stress, among kidney disease patients. It was noted that diabetic patients had consistently reduced levels of vitamin C. Lower blood levels of vitamin C have previously been linked to a greater risk of death from cardiovascular disease. People with higher levels of vitamin C have been found to have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and to have a greater life expectancy. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient in humans and acts as an antioxidant, protecting the body against oxidative stress. Most species can synthesize vitamin C but humans cannot.
A brief summary of this study was released September 3, 2010 by the journal, Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation but the study will not be published in the print journal until a future issue. The full-text version is currently available online at http://bit.ly/bPgeer.
Black Rice Beats Blueberries
BLACK RICE BEATS BLUEBERRIES FOR ANTIOXIDANT POWER
A study has found that black rice serves as a highly economical alternative to blueberries and blackberries, touted for their antioxidant punch.
Researchers report that a spoonful of black rice bran contains more health-promoting anthocyanin antioxidants than are found in a spoonful of pricey blueberries or blackberries, as well as containing more fiber and vitamin E antioxidants – but with less sugar.
Anthocyanin antioxidants show promise for fighting heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Black rice could be consumed in rice form, or the black rice bran could be used as an additive for cereals, beverages or other foods. Also, the pigments in black rice can be used to produce a variety of colors from pink to black and may provide an alternative to artificial food colorants.
Several studies have linked some artificial colorants to cancer, behavioral problems in children, and other health problems.
This study was presented at 8:30am (ET) on Thursday, August 26, 2010 at the American Chemical Society’s national meeting in Boston. It has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Green Tea & Depression
Green Tea May Combat Depression in Elderly
Drinking frequent cups of green tea is linked to a lower incidence of depressive symptoms in elderly people, say Japanese researchers.
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition focused on 1,058 elderly Japanese individuals 70 years of age plus with the prevalence of mild and severe and severe depressive symptoms said the authors.
The authors maintain that only a few studies have investigated the relationship between green tea consumption and mental health, while there appear to be few studies assessing the relationship between green tea drinking and depressive symptoms.
According to the team led by Atsushi Hozawa, depression in the elderly is highly prevalent and can increase the risk of medical illnesses, worsen the outcome of other medical illnesses, and may increase mortality.
Growing problem
World Health Organization (WHO) forecasts that within 20 years more people will be affected by depression than any other health problem; it ranks depression as the leading cause of disability worldwide, with around 120 million people affected.
Findings show that the occurrence of depressive symptoms was 44% lower for participants who drank 4+ cups of green tea/day compared to those who drank less than one, after results were adjusted for factors such as age, sex, disease history, BMI, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, diet, and other factors.
The authors state that their study is rather limited in scale and a larger population study that uses a standardized comprehensive structured diagnostic interview is required to confirm the effect of green tea consumption on depressive symptoms.
Mental stress
A previous study also led by the Hozawa found that drinking 5 cups of green tea/day may reduce the incidence of psychological distress by 20%.
Green tea consumption was said to improve psychological well-being in a study population of 42,093 Japanese individuals of which 6.6% suffered from psychological stress.
Relaxation benefits
The potential of green tea offers more than its well-known role as an antioxidant.
According to research from Unilever, green tea contains L-theanine, which is said to relax the brain.
Consumption of 50mg of L-theanine (equivalent of 2-3 cups of green tea) stimulates the alpha-brain waves associated with relaxation. By increasing the frequency of these brain waves, the beta-brain waves associated with tension are decreased.
Consumer awareness of the benefits of green tea and green tea extracts continues to rise with growing numbers of studies, from 430 papers in 2000 to almost 1500 in 2003, reporting benefits of the main compounds, catechins.
Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Published online ahead of print: doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28216
Title: Green tea consumption is associated with depressive symptoms in the elderly
Authors: K Niu, A Hozawa, S Kuriyama, S Ebihara, H Guo, N Nakaya, K Matsuda, H Takahashi, Y Masamune, M Asada, S Sasaki, H Arai, S Awata, R Nagatomi, and I Tsuji