måndag 15 september 2008

Acetic Acid Feeding Enhances Glycogen Repletion in Liver and Skeletal Muscle

Acetic Acid Feeding Enhances Glycogen Repletion in Liver and Skeletal Muscle of Rats -- Fushimi et al. 131 (7): 1973 -- Journal of Nutrition:

"Our results show that dietary acetic acid can enhance glycogen repletion in both liver and skeletal muscle. The mechanism of this effect is different in liver and skeletal muscle. In liver, acetic acid feeding enhances glycogen repletion by activation of gluconeogenesis and the preferential utilization of G-6-P for glycogenesis. In skeletal muscle, the enhancement of glycogen repletion by acetic acid feeding results from the accumulation of G-6-P due to suppression of glycolysis. We used acetic acid at concentrations comparable to those found in a normal diet. Therefore, we conclude that supplementing meals with vinegar may be beneficial in the recovery of liver and skeletal muscle glycogen, for example, upon fatigue, after skipping meals, postexercise or as part of an athlete’s breakfast on the day of competition."

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar: Just Another Vinegar Or Medical Marvel? | Modern Forager:

"...vinegar can improve insulin sensitivity in non-insulin resistant, insulin resistant, and Type II diabetic individuals when consumed before a meal. The Type II patients saw a 19% increase in post-meal insulin sensitivity and a 17% decrease in post-meal glycemia. The insulin resistant folks saw an even more marked improvement: post-meal glycemia reduction of 64% and a 35% increase in post-meal insulin sensitivity."

onsdag 10 september 2008

Turmeric: The Super Spice

T-Nation.com | A Question of Nutrition:

Q: You wrote in your 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth book that turmeric, the spice, deserved to have a whole book written on it. What's so great about this stuff, besides the fact that it makes Indian food taste good?"

tisdag 2 september 2008

How to Get Rid of Stubborn Fat

The Final Frontier of Diet: How to Get Rid of Stubborn Fat: A Nutrition, Supplements, and Fat Loss article from Dragon Door Publications:

"Experiments conducted in Italy have shown that combining citrus bioflavonoids with soy flavones was a most powerful, natural way to block the estrogenic effect on the body."

"Citrus bioflavonoids contain some natural properties that may block estrogen. Citrus flavonoids are abundant in the white, spongy layer of citrus peels.
Soy flavones contain mild estrogenic properties. Most people are not affected by this mild estrogenic stimulation. Soy flavones bind to the estrogen receptors in the tissues, and thus block these receptors from estrodiol, the most potent estrogen hormone. Estrodiol is called the "bad estrogen" because of its occasionally powerful effects on the body, such as bloating, water retention, fat gain, feminization of men (such as "bitch tits"), fat under the skin, and stubborn fat gain around the chest and the belly."

"Stinging nettle is an herb with promising potential as a natural aid against aromataze. Historically, people used nettle seeds and roots as a potency herb. Nettle may have an aphrodisiac effect on men by increasing the level of free testosterone in the blood.
The anti-aromatazing properties of this herb are probably due to its ability to bind to the aromataze enzyme, and thus neutralize it."

söndag 31 augusti 2008

Cinnamon Extract Creatine Booster

Creatine booster: cinnamon extract | Flex | Find Articles at BNET:

"Cinnamon extract (which contains high levels of hydroxychalcone) imitates the effects of insulin and potentiates the release of insulin from the pancreas. Additionally, cinnamon extract may enhance insulin binding in muscle cells, which could lead to better uptake of glucose, creatine and amino acids by muscle tissue. Improving glucose uptake promotes glucose utilization and, in turn, glycogen synthesis, which helps in recovery from intense exercise. Boosting amino acid uptake aids protein synthesis and muscle growth. Aside from its beneficial effects on insulin, cinnamon extract has also been shown to improve blood levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol."

tisdag 26 augusti 2008

Brazil Nuts And Selenium

Dr. Jonny Bowden's Blog::

"Recently, researchers from New Zealand asked a group of adult volunteers to consume either two Brazil nuts, 100 mcg of selenium as a supplement, or a placebo for 12 weeks. Even though the nuts averaged just 53 mcg of selenium, at the end of the 12 weeks, the nut eaters had increased their blood levels by over 64% while the supplement takers had increased theirs by a still very respectable 61%. The nut eaters also had more than twice the blood levels of an important selenium-dependent enzyme, glutathione peroxidise."

söndag 17 augusti 2008

Boron and Arthritis

Boron and Arthritis:

"In countries where there are minimum amounts of available boron in the soil there is much more arthritis. In most developed countries there are about 20% of people with some musculo-skeletal disease, which is generally arthritis. In places where there is more than usual boron in the soil there is much less arthritis"

Aphrodisiacs: Honey

Honey The Study of Aphrodisiacs:

"In addition to Boron, honey is a relatively rich source of a chemical called chrysin. Chrysin acts in the same way as Boron, blocking the conversion of testosterone into estrogen. In a 21 day study on people in Italy, it was found that eating honey did reduce the conversion of testosterone into estrogen"

Increase Libido

Celery:

"Celery While celery may not be the first food that comes to mind when you're thinking sex, it can be a fantastic source food for sexual stimulation. This is because it contains androsterone, an odorless hormone released through male perspiration and turns women on.

How to enjoy this libido food: Celery is best eaten raw. Wash and cut some, and munch away."

torsdag 14 augusti 2008

Spices May Protect Against Consequences Of High Blood Sugar

Spices May Protect Against Consequences Of High Blood Sugar:

"The researchers found a strong and direct correlation between the phenol content of common herbs and spices and their ability to inhibit the formation of AGE compounds. Spices such as cloves and cinnamon had phenol levels that were 30 percent and 18 percent of dry weight, respectively, while herbs such as oregano and sage were eight and six percent phenol by dry weight, respectively. For comparison, blueberries – which are widely touted for their antioxidant capabilities – contain roughly five percent phenol by dry weight."

When blood sugar levels are high, protein glycation occurs in which the sugar bonds with proteins to form AGE compounds. These compounds activate the immune system, resulting in the inflammation and tissue damage associated with aging and diabetes.

Cardiovascular Risk: Low Sodium Diets Might Be Worse Than High Salt Diets

Cardiovascular Risk: Low Sodium Diets Might Be Worse Than High Salt Diets:

"Contrary to long-held assumptions, high-salt diets may not increase the risk of death, according to investigators from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. They reached their conclusion after examining dietary intake among a nationally representative sample of adults in the U.S. The Einstein researchers actually observed a significantly increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with lower sodium diets."

tisdag 5 augusti 2008

Anti-estrogens

Anti-estrogens:

"The first thing we do with men showing signs of female fat distribution is to access their zinc level. Nearly 100% of the population is severely deficient in zinc. The next step is to get them on natural anti-estrogens such as green tea, grape seed extracts, and resveratrol."

lördag 2 augusti 2008

Krill Oil 48x Better Than Fish Oil?

Krill Oil 48x Better Than Fish Oil?:

"Krill oil, logically enough, comes from krill, which are small, shrimp like crustaceans that inhabit the cold ocean areas of the world, primarily the Antarctic and North Pacific Oceans.

Despite their small size–one to five centimeters in length–krill make up the largest animal biomass on the planet. According to Neptune Technologies, the Canadian company that holds the patent for krill oil extraction, there are approximately 500 million tons of krill roaming around in these northern seas, 110,000 tons of which are harvested annually.

Krill oil, like fish oil, contains both of the omega-3 fats, eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), but hooked together in a different form…"

tisdag 24 juni 2008

Even More On Turmeric

Turmeric knocks out pain:

"You have the choice of taking Motrin with it's known side effects, and so-so pain relief or taking Turmeric, which has no toxicity, several other hidden benefits, and knocks out pain. Which will it be?

When my arthritis flares up my shoulders, back, hips and knees ache. But for the most part, since I have discovered turmeric, I am pain free."

More On Turmeric

Curcumin might help prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease and cancer:

"Today, scientists are finding tantalizing clues that suggest curcumin might help prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease and cancer. Investigators at the University of California at Los Angeles, studying a mouse model of Alzheimer's, reported that the brains of animals fed curcumin had up to 80 percent fewer of the protein plaques associated with the disease than those of mice given a normal diet."

Turmeric

"The popular Asian cooking spice, turmeric, may help prevent diabetes and help beneficially influence body composition"

Previous research has suggested that turmeric and its anti-oxidative ingredient, curcumin, can help reduce inflammation, help heal wounds and relieve pain.

For the most recent study, researchers from the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center evaluated the use of turmeric on rodent models and found that those treated with the popular curry spice were “less susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes” based on the findings of a blood glucose level test and an assessment of glucose and insulin tolerance."

In addition, the researchers report that obese mice given turmeric exhibited “a small but significant decline in body weight and fat content” and showed “significantly reduced inflammation in fat tissue and liver” when compared to obese mice not given the spice.

fredag 16 maj 2008

Phytate Hydrolysis by Phytase in Cereals; Effects on In Vitro Estimation of Iron Availability

Soaking: "Phytate (inositol hexaphosphate) hydrolysis by endogenous and exogenous phytases was studied for their effect on increasing iron availability in cereals. Wheat bran and whole meal flours of rye and oats were soaked at optimal conditions for phytase activity (55°C, pH 5) for different time intervals. Phytate and its degradation products were determined by HPLC and related to iron solubility under simulated physiological conditions. Small amounts of phytate (< lμmol/g) had a strong negative effect on iron solubility. When inositol hexa- and pentaphosphates of wheat bran and rye flour were completely hydrolyzed by activating endogenous phytase, iron solubility under simulated physiological conditions increased from 3 to 53% (wheat) and 5 to 21% (rye). Addition of wheat phytase to uncooked oatmeal increased iron solubility from 4 to 11 and in precooked to 18%, while endogenous phytase of uncooked oatmeal had less effect on phytate digestion and iron solubility.Phytate (inositol hexaphosphate) hydrolysis by endogenous and exogenous phytases was studied for their effect on increasing iron availability in cereals. Wheat bran and whole meal flours of rye and oats were soaked at optimal conditions for phytase activity (55°C, pH 5) for different time intervals. Phytate and its degradation products were determined by HPLC and related to iron solubility under simulated physiological conditions. Small amounts of phytate (< lμmol/g) had a strong negative effect on iron solubility. When inositol hexa- and pentaphosphates of wheat bran and rye flour were completely hydrolyzed by activating endogenous phytase, iron solubility under simulated physiological conditions increased from 3 to 53% (wheat) and 5 to 21% (rye). Addition of wheat phytase to uncooked oatmeal increased iron solubility from 4 to 11 and in precooked to 18%, while endogenous phytase of uncooked oatmeal had less effect on phytate digestion and iron solubility."

måndag 12 maj 2008

Garlic

Garlic: to promote health and testosterone production:

"Garlic, a cousin to the onion, is rich in allicin, diallyl disulphide, diallyl trisulfide and other sulfur-containing compounds that provide the numerous health benefits that garlic imparts, such as fighting cancer, heart disease and even the common cold. Less known is garlic’s ability to stimulate testosterone production and inhibit cortisol production. Before workouts, garlic can help to boost testosterone when you need it most and blunt the cortisol response that normally accompanies exercise and limits testosterone’s anabolic effects."

onsdag 30 april 2008

Spice Fights Syndrome X

Your fancy latte with cinnamon just may deliver more than a taste sensation:

"The International Society of Sports Nutrition’s professional journal, JISSN, recently published a landmark study on the effects of a specific cinnamon extract (Cinnulin-PF) in pre-diabetic subjects.

Prediabetes is strongly linked to cardiovascular disease and a metabolic condition known as Syndrome X. Researchers from The Ohio Research Group reported that supplementing with 500 mg per day of Cinnulin-PF significantly reduced fasting blood sugar and systolic blood pressure, while simultaneously improving body composition. Impressively, these beneficial effects occurred without changes in diet or exercise.

Cinnamon is the real deal when it comes to overall health and wellness. Look for the specific extract used in the study."

onsdag 23 april 2008

Glucose Disposal

Glucose Disposal — Cinnamon and Brewer's Yeast:

"I have a question concerning low-carb diets. In Dan Duchaine's BodyOpus book, he mentions the use of brewer's yeast and cinnamon as potent glucose disposal agents. Do you have any idea of the amount of these items that should be taken to help with glucose disposal? Thanks.

S. Morgan

Both cinnamon and brewer's yeast substantially potentiate insulin. There is one caveat, however — albumin levels. At baseline albumin levels in blood, cinnamon is more effective than brewer's yeast, showing an insulin-potentiating effect of about 12-fold. But as albumin levels increase, cinnamon's effects are inhibited, making it ineffective.

In contrast, brewer's yeast actually becomes more effective as albumin levels increase, maxing out with an insulin-potentiating effect of about sixfold. So, to cover both situations, it makes sense to take cinnamon and brewer's yeast together.

Regarding dosages — this is a guess — try taking 250 mg of cinnamon and two tablespoons of brewer's yeast, three times a day. Be careful with cinnamon, though. Some people are allergic to it. So test a small amount before you start taking larger dosages.

But I have to tell you that my favorite, over-the-counter insulin potentiator is alpha-lipoic acid (ALA). I don't take cinnamon or brewer's yeast, but I do take ALA. And, it's a super-powerful antioxidant, too. Take 200 mg three times a day."

fredag 18 april 2008

A Paleolithic diet confers higher insulin sensitivity, lower C-reactive protein and lower blood pressure than a cereal-based diet in domestic pigs

A Paleolithic diet confers higher insulin sensitivity, lower C-reactive protein and lower blood pressure than a cereal-based diet in domestic pigs:

"A Paleolithic diet has been suggested to be more in concordance with human evolutionary legacy than a cereal based diet. This might explain the lower incidence among hunter-gatherers of diseases of affluence such as type 2 diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to experimentally study the long-term effect of a Paleolithic diet on risk factors for these diseases in domestic pigs. We examined glucose tolerance, post-challenge insulin response, plasma C-reactive protein and blood pressure after 15 months on Paleolithic diet in comparison with a cereal based swine feed.

This study in domestic pigs suggests that a Paleolithic diet conferred higher insulin sensitivity, lower C-reactive protein and lower blood pressure when compared to a cereal based diet."

Effects of curcumin on retinal oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetes

Effects of curcumin on retinal oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetes:

"Thus, the beneficial effects of curcumin on the metabolic abnormalities postulated to be important in the development of diabetic retinopathy suggest that curcumin could have potential benefits in inhibiting the development of retinopathy in diabetic patients."

Eggs modulate the inflammatory response to carbohydrate restricted diets

Eggs modulate the inflammatory response to carbohydrate restricted diets in overweight men:

"A CRD with daily intake of eggs decreased plasma CRP and increased plasma adiponectin compared to a CRD without eggs. These findings indicate that eggs make a significant contribution to the anti-inflammatory effects of CRD, possibly due to the presence of cholesterol, which increases HDL-C and to the antioxidant lutein which modulates certain inflammatory responses."

fredag 28 mars 2008

A cure for the common cold?

A cure for the common cold? | Health & Nutrition by Michael R. Eades, M.D.: "there is a product on the shelves of most health food stores and natural food groceries that really does work. However, most people don’t know about it, and when they do see it mixed in with all the other cold medicines, they don’t know how different it really is.

The product is umckaloabo, an extract from the African plant Pelargonium sidoides."

onsdag 26 mars 2008

Pumpkin seeds

WHFoods: "Pumpkin Seeds May Promote Prostate Health"

Benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH, is a condition that commonly affects men 50 years and older in the United States. BPH involves enlargement of the prostate gland. One of the factors that contributes to BPH is overstimulation of the prostate cells by testosterone and its conversion product, DHT (dihydrotestosterone). Components in pumpkin seed oil appear able to interrupt this triggering of prostate cell multiplication by testosterone and DHT, although the exact mechanism for this effect is still a matter of discussion. Equally open for discussion is the relationship between pumpkin seed oil extracts (which could be purchased in the form of a dietary supplement) and pumpkin seeds themselves. The prostate-helpful components found in the oil extracts are definitely found in the seeds; the only question is whether the amount of seeds eaten for a normal snack would contain enough of these prostate-supportive components. The carotenoids found in pumpkin seeds, and the omega-3 fats found in pumpkin seeds are also being studied for their potential prostate benefits. Men with higher amounts of carotenoids in their diet have less risk for BPH; this is the connection that has led to an interest in pumpkin seed carotenoids.

Zinc is one further nutrient found in pumpkin seeds that might impact prostate function. The fact that pumpkin seeds serve as a good source of zinc may contribute to the role of pumpkin seeds in support of the prostate. However, studies about the relationship between zinc and BPH show mixed results, and more research is needed to determine the circumstances under which zinc might be helpful versus harmful.

Pomegranates Linked to Enhanced Sperm Quality in Animal Study

Pomegranates Linked to Enhanced Sperm Quality in Animal Study:

A animal study indicates that the antioxidants in pomegranates may enhance sperm quality, adding to past evidence that other antioxidants—such as resveratrol—also may play a role in sperm health.