Health Store Updates – Please Be Patient With Us

We are in the process of making some significant changes and upgrades to our web store in order to make the shopping experience easier for our customers.  Please bear with us as we go through the process over the next few days.  Let us know how you like the changes and if you have any additional suggestions to make your shopping experience even better. 

Thanks to all of our past, current and future customers.

Osteoarthritis Information and Remedies

According to a recent study authored by John Rizzo of Stony Brook University in New York, about 27 million Americans have diagnosed Osteoarthritis and this will balloon to around 67 million by the year 2030.  There are steps you can take now to help reduce your risks and/or minimize the impact of this debilitating disease.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, there a number of treatments and preventative steps that are used.  Among these are exercise, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and supplements.  More intense drugs and even surgery may also be necessary for some.

Among the supplements mentioned are Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate, antioxidants, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin D.

According to the information found at the Arthritis Foundation’s website, Glucosamine appears to play a role in the formation and repair of cartilage while Chondroitin Sulfate improves cartilage elasticity.  These supplements appear to provide pain relief similar to the relief experienced from use of non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).

Antioxidants may help ease certain symptoms of osteoarthritis; Vitamin C decreases the progression and pain of Osteoarthritis; Vitamin E provides pain relief and Vitamin D may help prevent or slow disease progression.  A good multi-vitamin with antioxidants may help postpone onset of the disease and/or reduce symptoms.

As always, consult your healthcare provider to determine the best preventative and therapeutic treatments for you.

Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year

 

Luke 2:8-11
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

May you experience all of the joy that was intended for you this holiday season and into next year.

Probiotics: Digestive Health Benefits

Probiotics - means “fit for life,” or “pro life.” Probiotics are living microorganisms which, when administered effectively in adequate amounts, confer health benefits. The adult intestinal tract is home to approximately 100 trillion microorganisms. More than 400 different bacterial species have already been identified in the intestinal tract.

Click HERE to see the video by Dr. Steve Warren.

First, in order to be effective Probiotics must contain bacteria which are resistant to stomach acids and bile salts. Secondly, the bacteria must have the capacity to compete successfully with the indigenous intestinal bacteria. So, either the bacteria must be protected by the use of encapsulation techniques, or new types of foods must be developed which offer increased protection for the bacteria. The key to the effectiveness of probiotic treatment is for the bacteria to be able to pass through the stomach and the small intestines reaching the large intestines with sufficient strength to colonize and flourish.

SHIME stands for “The Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem.” This in vitro system was created to simulate the activities and conditions found in the stomach, small intestines, and large intestines. This enables scientists to monitor the quantity of bacteria that survive the journey to the large intestines. And, it also enables them to monitor the development of the bacterial colonies in the large intestines.

Many, many new probiotic products have been launched in North America and Europe. But, we have a distinct advantage. Chocolate appears to be the ideal delivery system for probiotics. Chocolate has been shown to be far superior to milk as a delivery system for Probiotics.  See our Xocai brand XoBiotic (probiotic) healthy chocolate product.

Green Tea Bio-Chemical May Hold Promise for Treatment of Brain Disorders

Scientists at Boston Biomedical Research Institute (BBRI) and the University of Pennsylvania have found that combining two naturally-derived bio-chemicals (one from yeast and one of which is the green tea component EGCG) can prevent and destroy a variety of protein structures known as amyloids.

Amyloids are the primary culprits in fatal brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s diseases. Their study, published in the current issue of Nature Chemical Biology (December 2009), may ultimately contribute to future therapies for these diseases.

“These findings are significant because it is the first time a combination of specific chemicals has successfully destroyed diverse forms of amyloids at the same time,” said researchers from The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

For decades, a major goal of neurological research has been finding a way to prevent the formation of and to break up and destroy amyloid plaques in the brains and nervous systems of people with Alzheimer’s and other degenerative diseases before they wreak havoc.

Amyloid plaques are tightly packed proteins that infiltrate the brain. These plaques, which are stable and seemingly impenetrable, fill nerve cells or wrap around brain tissues and eventually (as in the case of Alzheimer’s) suffocate vital neurons or brain cells, causing loss of memory, language, motor function and eventually premature death.

To date, researchers have had no success in destroying plaques in the human brain and only minimal success in the laboratory. One reason for these difficulties in finding compounds that can dissolve amyloids is their immense stability and their complex composition.

In the new study, the team decided to look in more detail at the impact of these two chemicals on the production of different amyloids produced by the yeast (amyloid protein known as PSI+).  They chose this yeast amyloid protein because it has been studied extensively in the past, and because it produces varieties of amyloid structures that are prototypes of those found in the damaged human brain. Thus, PSI+ amyloids are excellent experimental paradigms to study basic properties of all amyloid proteins.

The team’s first step was to expose two different amyloid structures produced by yeast ( a high potency version and a low potency version) to EGCG. They found that the EGCG effectively dissolved the amyloids in the weaker version. They also found that the stronger amyloids were not dissolved and that some transformed to even stronger versions after exposure to EGCG.

The team then exposed the yeast amyloid structures to a combination of the EGCG and the DAPH-12 and found that all of the amyloid structures broke apart and dissolved.

The next steps for the research team will be to explore the mechanism and potency of such a combinatorial therapy for the treatment of diverse neurodegenerative diseases.

___________________________________

Source:  the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

New Study Reports Supplement Users May Have Better Cancer Survival

Lung Cancer Patients Who Were Regular Dietary Supplement
Users Prior to Diagnosis May Have Better Survival Chances
Than Non-Users, Says an Important New Study From Norway.
 
Use of Cod Liver Oil supplements was associated with a 44
per cent lower risk of death for lung cancer patients, while daily
use of other dietary supplements was associated with a 30 per cent
reduction in the risk of death among lung cancer patients, according
to findings published in the International Journal of Cancer.

Dark Chocolate May Protect DNA from Damage According To A New Study

Further Supports Evidence About The Antioxidants, Carotenoids and Polyphenols Naturally Present In Dark Chocolate Being Beneficial For Cardiovascular Health

Consumption of polyphenol-rich dark chocolate may protect DNA from oxidative damage, preventing artery hardening and heart disease, says this study.

Writing in the British Journal of Nutrition, Italian researchers report that consumption of dark chocolate containing 860 milligrams of polyphenols, and 58 milligrams of epicatechin, led to a 20 per cent reduction in DNA damage two hours after consumption.

The study adds to an ever growing body of science supporting the cardiovascular benefits of polyphenol-rich chocolate.

See related article, “Nutritional Benefits of Chocolate.”

Flaxseed Oil Cuts Osteoporosis Risk in Diabetic, Older Women According to Study

Flaxseed Oil may reduce the risk of osteoporosis in women with diabetes and those who are post-menopausal, according to an important new study.

The results of new research suggest that flaxseed oil has a beneficial effect on bone mineral density and reduces markers associated with osteoporosis. The researchers are indicating that this dietary supplement could be beneficial to women with diabetes or older women in reducing their risk of osteoporosis.

The findings were published in the International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health.

Osteoporosis is characterised by low bone mass, which leads to an increase risk of fractures, especially the hips, spine and wrists. An estimated 75 million people suffer from this debilitating condition in Europe, the US and Japan.

Women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men and the authors of this study explained that previous research indicates that diabetes decreases bone turnover that is associated with impaired osteoblastic maturation and function.

According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, boosting bone density in high-risk and post-menopausal women could ease the burden of osteoporosis.

The researchers explained that they studied 70 female laboratory subjects of which 30 had their ovaries removed (ovx) to simulate the post-menopausal state whereby oestrogen is decreased and another group was rendered diabetic (Type 1) in order to determine the impact of diabetes on the development of osteoporosis.

“Bone status was tested through estimation of serum bone formation biomarkers IGF-1 and osteocalcin and bone resorption biomarker deoxypyridinoline,” explained the team.

The authors added that flaxseed oil (rich in omega-3 fatty acids) replaced corn oil (rich in omega-6 fatty acids) in the diet of some of the diabetic and the ovx-diabetic groups with the aim of testing for the impact of this oil on either delaying or preventing the development of osteopenia in ovx subjects.

They reported that, after two months, urine and blood samples were analysed and IGF-1 and the bone-creating protein osteocalcin were also measured.

Results

The researchers found that the serum concentrations of IGF-1 and osteocalcin were increased in the ovx and diabetic ovx groups but their lowest levels were detected in the diabetic group.

And the team said that bone mineral density and content in diabetic group were reduced and normalised after receiving flaxseed oil.

The researchers also found that the levels of deoxypyridinoline in the urine were raised in the diabetic group. Deoxypyridinoline is normally present in healthy bone and its presence in urine is a specific marker for bone resorption associated with osteoporosis.

Levels of this marker compound fell when the subjects were given flaxseed oil, continued the authors.

The team concluded that diabetes has a more pronounced effect on bone health than ovariectomy and they suggest that diabetes in post-menopausal women may also be a greater risk factor for osteoporosis than the decline in sex hormones associated with the menopause.

They said that the presence of  healthy fatty acids in flaxseed oil may play a role in protecting the processes of matrix formation and bone mineralization, which apparently are compromised by diabetes and the menopause.

Source: International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health Published online

Funding for the study was provided by the National Cancer Institute.

Folic Acid and Iron Linked to Better Baby Survival…

The Key Nutrients For Maternal and Infant Health

Taking Folic Acid and Iron Supplements during pregnancy may reduce infant mortality up to age 7, suggests new research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Supplements of Iron and Folic Acid reduced infant mortality by 31 per cent, according to findings published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Furthermore, the supplements reduced the prevalence of low birth weight by 16 per cent and the prevalence of maternal anaemia during pregnancy and after the birth period by 50 per cent.

See full article here

Heart Health: Niacin Found To Be Superior

According to a recent study reported by the NY Times and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Niacin was found to be superior in its benefits for reducing buildup in the Carotid Artery – a major factor in heart attacks and heart disease.

Reduce cholesterol and carotid artery buildup

Taking Niacin may help reduce chances of developing heart problems by lowering bad cholesterol.  If you are currently taking a statin drug, talk to your doctor about adding Niacin as a daily dietary supplement.

Low Cholesterol May Reduce Risk For High-grade Prostate Cancer

Men with lower cholesterol are less likely than those with higher levels to develop high-grade prostate cancer, an aggressive form of the disease with a
poorer prognosis, according to results of an important Johns Hopkins collaborative study.

In a prospective study of more than 5,000 U.S. men, epidemiologists say they now have evidence that having lower levels of heart-clogging fat may cut a man’s risk of this form of cancer by nearly 60 percent.

Results of the current study are expected to be published online this month in the Journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Also in the journal is an accompanying paper from the National Cancer Institute showing that lower cholesterol in men conferred a 15 percent decrease in overall cancer cases.

Many health-minded individuals are choosing
vitamins and other nutrients to help lower
cholesterol like those found in Cholesto-Plex
to provide the following benefits: 
· Help maintain healthy cholesterol levels with
   no side effects.
· Antioxidant action helps reduce plaque from
                                    forming.
· Strengthen and protect the cardiovascular system.
· Help promote a healthy ratio of HDL and LDL cholesterol.
· Support normal cholesterol balance and function.