Health, Myths, Fraud and the Crisis

Nutrition

Two Cups Of Water Before Each Meal Enhanced Weight Loss In Clinical Trial

Fish oil may reduce breast cancer risk … by 32%

The July issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention reports that postmenopausal women who take fish oil supplements may reduce their risk of the most common type of breast cancer (invasive ductal breast cancer) by a whopping 32%.
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/19/7/1696.abstract

Pomegranate Juice and Prostate Cancer

Health benefit of pomegranate juice on prostate cancer and the heart

BOSTON — Few American men have heard of the pomegranate, and fewer still have eaten this curious-looking fruit loaded with red seeds. But new scientific findings suggest that pomegranates may one day find a place in healthful diets, reports the April 2007 issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch.

Phase II Study of Pomegranate Juice for Men with Rising Prostate-Specific Antigen following Surgery or Radiation for Prostate Cancer

http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/12/13/4018.abstract

Conclusions: We report the first clinical trial of pomegranate juice in patients with prostate cancer. The statistically significant prolongation of PSA doubling time, coupled with corresponding laboratory effects on prostate cancer in vitro cell proliferation and apoptosis as well as oxidative stress, warrant further testing in a placebo-controlled study.

Plant-Based Foods

Plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts, are prominent features of healthy dietary patterns. In addition to providing energy and essential micronutrients, plant-based foods contribute thousands of biologically active phytochemicals (plant chemicals that may affect health ) to the human diet. While there is ample evidence to support the health benefits of diets rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts, evidence that these effects are due to specific nutrients or phytochemicals is limited.

Choline – an essential nutrient

Choline is considered an essential nutrient, because even healthy individuals cannot synthesize enough to maintain health.From the Linus Pauling Institute : 

The main criterion for establishing the Adequate Intake level for choline was the prevention of liver damage (see Deficiency).

Food sources

Very little information is available on the choline content of foods (4). Most choline in foods is found in the form of phosphatidylcholine. Milk, eggs, liver, and peanuts are especially rich in choline.

Strict vegetarians who consume no milk or eggs may be at risk of inadequate choline intake.

Folate or Folic acid

Folic acid can overwhelm the human liver August 24, 2009 | 12:00 pm

Recent studies have linked high levels of unmetabolized folic acid to decreased activity of natural killer cells in older women, and they may make it difficult to detect deficiencies in B12. Too much folic acid also appears to boost the progression of some types of cancer. (For more, see this L.A. Times story from May.)

Health Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric is one of nature’s most powerful healers. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Tumeric has been used for over 2500 years in India. It appears that curcumins anti-inflammatory properties help fight a range of health problems, including arthritis and bowel conditions like Crohn’s disease.

Research has suggested it could help in the fight against Alzheimers after tests showed build-up of plaques in the brain had halved and there was less inflammation in the brain tissue.

From Wikipedia :  Turmeric is currently being investigated for possible benefits in Alzheimer’s disease,[6] cancer, arthritis, and other clinical disorders.[7]

 

Turmeric rhizome

In the latter half of the 20th century, curcumin was identified as responsible for most of the biological effects of turmeric. According to a 2005 article in the Wall Street Journal, research activity into curcumin and turmeric is increasing, with supplement sales increased 35% from 2004. The U.S. National Institutes of Health currently has registered 19 clinical trials underway to study use of dietary turmeric and curcumin for a variety of clinical disorders (dated February 2010).[8]

Turmeric May Boost Liver Health

New research suggests that a compound found in turmeric (a key ingredient in curry) may help protect against liver damage. In their study on mice, scientists determined that the compound known as curcumin may help lessen the inflammation linked to cirrhosis (a potentially fatal disease marked by scarring of the liver).

For the study, researchers focused on mice with chronic liver inflammation. After following a curcumin-enhanced diet for four or eight weeks, the mice experienced a significant reduction in liver cell damage and scarring. It’s likely that these benefits stem from curcumin’s ability to curb inflammation, according to the study’s authors.

Scientists say curry compound kills cancer cells

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