Watermelon: A Natural Viagra?:
Watermelon may work as a natural Viagra. That's because watermelon is rich in an amino acid called citrulline, and relaxes and dilates blood vessels much like Viagra and other drugs meant to treat erectile dysfunction.
"We have known that watermelon has citrulline," says Bhimu Patil, PHD, director of the Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center at Texas A&M University, College Station. Until recently, he tells WebMD, scientists thought most of the citrulline was in the watermelon rind. "Watermelon has more citrulline in the edible part than previously believed," he says.
How could watermelon be a natural Viagra? The amino acid citrulline is converted into the amino acid arginine. Arginine is a precursor for nitric oxide, and the nitric oxide regulate the blood vessel dilation.
Watermelon consumption increases plasma arginine concentrations in adults:
"The increased blood concentrations of arginine and ornithine and stable concentrations of plasma citrulline in response to watermelon consumption indicated that the citrulline from this plant origin was effectively converted into arginine. These results demonstrate that plasma concentration of arginine can be increased through intake of citrulline from watermelon."
måndag 9 mars 2009
Lignans from the roots of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and their metabolites bind to human sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)
Testosterone and estradiol circulate in the bloodstream, bound mostly to SHBG and to some degree bound to serum albumin. Only a small fraction is unbound, or "free," and thus biologically active and able to enter a cell and activate its receptor. The SHBG inhibits the function of these hormones. Thus bioavailability of sex hormones is influenced by the level of SHBG.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_hormone-binding_globulin)
Résumé / Abstract
Polar extracts of the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) roots contain the lignans (+)-neoolivil, (-)-secoisolariciresinol, dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol, isolariciresinol, pinoresinol, and 3,4-divanillyltetrahydrofuran. These compounds were either isolated from Urtica roots, or obtained semisynthetically. Their affinity to human sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) was tested in an in vitro assay. In addition, the main intestinal transformation products of plant lignans in humans, enterodiol and enterolactone, together with enterofuran were checked for their activity. All lignans except (-)-pinoresinol developed a binding affinity to SHBG in the in vitro assay. The affinity of (-)-3,4-divanillyltetrahydrofuran was outstandingly high. These findings are discussed with respect to potential beneficial effects of plant lignans on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
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."
"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."
"...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?"
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."
"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."
"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."
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