Image by Jesse Wight
Cancer: The benefits of vitamins are in the spotlight again with a study conducted by the Mayo clinic and and presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. According to the study, Vitamin D is strongly associated now with survival in lymphoma patients. “The exact roles that Vitamin D might play in the initiation or progression of cancer is unknown, but we do know that the vitamin plays a role in regulation of cell growth and death, among other processes important in limiting cancer”, said Dr. Matthew Drake, lead investigator of the study. The best part? All you need is 15 minutes in the sun three times a week in the summer as your free “supplement” of Vitamin D, which your body will then store inside body fat. Read More…
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Bones: Adding flaxseed oil to the diet could reduce the risk of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and women with diabetes, according to a report to be published in the International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health. The results of the study conducted in Egypt suggested that flaxseed oil has a beneficial effect on bone mineral density and reduces markers associated with osteoporosis. The research team explains that the presence of so-called “n-3 fatty acids” in flaxseed oil may play a role in protecting the processes of matrix formation and bone mineralization, which seem to be compromised by diabetes and menopause. Tip: If you don’t have flaxseed oil, grind flaxseed and add it to your morning smoothie for better fatty acid absorption. Read More…
Image by Jesse Wight
Pain: Meditation can help with pain management, according to a study published in the current issue of The Journal of Pain. The idea is not new, but the researchers discovered that, contrary to previous assumptions, just a single hour of training spread out over a three-day period (20 mins a day) can produce the same analgesic effect than a long time commitment. More on pain control: Another study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that emotions – or mood – can alter how we react to pain. The researcher Mathieu Roy noted: “Our findings show that non-pharmaceutical interventions – mood enhancers such as photography or music – could be used in healthcare to help alleviate pain.” Crank up that Mozart.
Relationships: Fight – but choose your words. Couples who bring thoughtful words to a fight release lower amounts of stress-related proteins, according to a study published in Health Psychology. Researchers found that rational communication between partners – using words like ‘think’, ‘because’, ‘reason’, and ‘why’ – can ease the impact of marital conflict on the immune system. These words suggest people are either making sense of the conflict or at least thinking about it in a deep way. Interesting side note: women, typically better at communication, were more likely to use cognitive words than husbands. Come on, guys – use your words! Read More…
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Food: In a study published in the journal HortScience, the flesh of pumpkins and squash of various colors was evaluated for carotenoids, compounds that are sources of Vitamin A and are protective antioxidants. Using colormetric analysis, the researchers found nine times more carotenoids within orange-red and yellow-orange colored plants versus yellow and white plants. Looks like color does matter when it comes to food.
Digestion: There’s a reason for eating slowly. A new study to be published in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism reports that eating a meal quickly cuts the release of hormones in the gut that give that “I’m full” feeling. The faster we eat, the less hormones released, our brain doesn’t think we’re full and we keep eating. Stop wolfing food down and take a full 30 minutes to chew your meal – you’ll want to eat less and your jeans will fit you better.
Pollution: A study published in HortScience reported that five ornamental plants were found to clean indoor air of pollutants called ‘volatile organic compounds’ (VOC). VOCs are toxic to humans and can originate from building materials, smoke, exterior fumes, paint and more. Purple waffle plant, English Ivy, Variegated Wax Plant and Asparagus Fern had the highest removal rates for VOCs, followed closely by Purple Heart Plant. Bonus: Nice plants have a positive psychological impact on health too. Read More…
