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The methanol extracts of leaves, flowers, stalks and bulbs of the North African endemic Allium roseum var. odoratissimum were analyzed for their phenolic profiles and screened for their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Colourimetric analysis revealed that the highest levels of total phenols content (TPC) and total flavonoids content (TFC) were found in the flowers and leaves. Read on

The methanol extracts of leaves, flowers, stalks and bulbs of the North African endemic Allium roseum var. odoratissimum were analyzed for their phenolic profiles and screened for their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Colourimetric analysis revealed that the highest levels of total phenols content (TPC) and total flavonoids content (TFC) were found in the flowers and leaves. Read on

The effect of lipid-soluble extract from maca (Lepidium meyenii), which contains macamides, on swimming endurance capacity, as an indicator of fatigue, in weight-loaded forced swimming rats was investigated. The swimming times to exhaustion of rats supplemented for 3 weeks with 30 and 100 mg/kg of maca extract increased by 25% and 41%, respectively. Supplementation with 100 mg/kg of maca extract reduced serum lactate dehydrogenase activity and muscle lipid peroxidation, and increased hepatic and muscle total glutathione compared with those values in controls. The levels of energy sources and serum lactate remained unchanged despite the longer swimming time in the supplemented rats than those in controls. These results suggest that supplementation with lipid-soluble maca extract improved swimming endurance capacity and this effect can be explained partly by attenuation of exercise-induced oxidative stress. Read on

Flavonoids and other phenolic compounds affect low-grade inflammation related to cardiovascular diseases among other positive health effects. Cardioprotective actions are mainly due to enhanced endothelial function and production of nitric oxide (NO). We investigated vascular anti-inflammatory effects of cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) and blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) juices given as drinking fluid ad libitum to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), a widely used model of human hypertension, in an 8 week intervention study. The animals were sacrificed, the aortas cleaned and RNA was extracted. cDNA was prepared for real-time PCR and blood was collected for biochemical analyses. The mRNA expressions of angiotensin-converting enzyme 1 (ACE1), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1) and P-selectin were significantly reduced in the cranberry and lingonberry groups. These findings suggest that cranberry and lingonberry cold-compressed juices have anti-inflammatory and anti-atherothrombotic READ ON

The effects of a spread containing bioactive tripeptides isoleucine-proline-proline (IPP), valine-proline-proline (VPP) and plant sterols were studied in subjects with mild hypertension and elevated LDL cholesterol. Sixty-two subjects consumed 20 g/day spread containing 4.2 mg milk peptides and 2 g plant sterol esters or placebo for 10 weeks. Blood pressure was measured twice a week. Arterial stiffness was assessed by pulse wave analysis and by pulse wave velocity. Blood samples were analysed for serum lipids and high-sensitive CRP. A significant decrease was seen in systolic blood pressure (p = 0.026), but not in diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.53). Total cholesterol (p = 0.003) and LDL cholesterol (p = 0.002) decreased, whereas HDL cholesterol, triacylglycerols and CRP remained unchanged. No overall effects on arterial stiffness were seen. The results suggest that a spread containing bioactive milk peptides and plant sterols has a beneficial effect on two major cardiovascular risk factors, blood pressure and plasma lipids, in hypertensive, dyslipidemic subjects. Functional foods affecting two major risk factors can be valuable tools in managing cardiovascular risk READ ON

An excerpt from Nurses Next Door:

We offer three Pillars of Caring to help you determine the support you – or the ones you love – need.Pick a Pillar and give us a call to set up a FREE Caring Consult with one of our Care Designers. During the visit we will get to know you and build a caring plan based on what will make you healthy and happy.

Then, meet your qualified caregiver!  ReadeRead  Re

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A recent study found the affects of sepia (cuttlefish) beneficial in hypertension. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464612000485 

I am trying to get to 1000 likes on my facebook business page by the end of June. I would be very appreciative if you could take a second to hit LIKE on my page! Thanks for helping a small town gal from Guelph out! https://www.facebook.com/CarusoHomeopathy 

An interesting article challenges the beliefs of the China Study and that all people should be vegetarians. http://www.westonaprice.org/vegetarianism-and-plant-foods/the-china-study-myth 

An interesting article from Weston Price foundation on fats and bad fats, separating fact from fiction:

http://www.westonaprice.org/know-your-fats/good-fats-bad-fats-separating-fact-from-fiction 

 ScienceDaily (Apr. 2, 2012) — Hypnosis can be a highly effective treatment for the bowel disorder IBS. Studies involving a total of 346 patients conducted by researchers at The Sahlgrenska Academy of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, showed that hypnotherapy alleviated symptoms in 40 per cent of those affected -- and that the improvement is long-term. Read on

ScienceDaily (Apr. 4, 2012) — Yoga classes have positive psychological effects for high-school students, according to a pilot study in the April Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.  Read on

ScienceDaily (Apr. 25, 2012) — The latest American Academy of Neurology/American Headache Society Guidelines released this week outline evidence-based and effective treatments that can prevent migraine attacks and lessen their severity. According to guidelines published on the American Academy of Neurology's website, 38 percent of migraine sufferers require preventive therapy, but just three to 13 percent currently use it. An added concern is that patients are taking treatments that have never been demonstrated to work. Most importantly, the guidelines assert that migraine prevention requires taking medication daily, rather than only when in the throes of an attack. Read on

Read on Re

An interesting article by Dr. Mark Hyman about cholesterol and how it is not the all that it is promoted as being in the medical community and news: http://drhyman.com/downloads/Cholesterol-AT.pdf 

An interesting article by Green News states that the herbicide Roundup is linked to parkinson's disease amoung other ailments. Read on.

Coconut oil has so many health benefits, it is excellent to use instead of shortening and other cooking oils and well it can be used topically. Here is a site that claims there is a 160 uses for coconut oil. Read on.

Selenium Supplementation and Exercise: Effect on Oxidant Stress in Overweight Adults
Louise A. Savory, Catherine J. Kerr, Paul Whiting, Nicholas Finer, Jane McEneny and Tony Ashton

Abstract

Both obesity and acute high-intensity exercise increase oxidant stress levels. This study investigates whether selenium (Se) supplementation could be a potential effective therapy to reduce obesity-associated oxidant stress and exercise-induced oxidant stress. Ten normal-weight (NW) (22.80 ± 0.41 kg/m2) and ten overweight (OW) healthy subjects (28.00 ± 0.81 kg/m2) were assessed during a randomized double-blind Se supplementation study (200 µg sodium selenite/day for 3 weeks) with a 3-week placebo control and inversion of treatment periods. Blood levels of lipid hydroperoxide (LH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), erythrocyte glutathione (GSH), and total antioxidant status (TAS), were measured at rest, pre-, and postexercise (30 min 70% VO2 max before and after treatment (pretreatment (week 0 and 12) and post-treatment (week 3 or 15)). At rest, compared to placebo, Se supplementation had no significant effect on LH, SOD, GSH, and TAS levels. However, Se supplementation decreased LH levels in the OW group, immediately postexercise (−0.25 ± 0.12 µmol/l, P = 0.05) compared to placebo treatment. Postexercise, with or without Se supplementation, no changes in TAS, SOD, and GSH levels were observed in both the NW and OW group. This study has highlighted a potential benefit of Se in reducing LH levels postexercise in OW individuals. Given that oxidant stress is a predictor of coronary events, it is imperative to better understand oxidant stress-related responses to lifestyle factors (in particular “high-risk” population groups) and potential antioxidant therapy.
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A Losing Battle: Weight Regain Does Not Restore Weight Loss-Induced Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women
Karen L. Villalon, Wendolyn S. Gozansky, Rachael E. Van Pelt, Pam Wolfe, Catherine M. Jankowski, Robert S. Schwartz and Wendy M. Kohrt

Abstract

Previously, we reported significant bone mineral density (BMD) loss in postmenopausal women after modest weight loss. It remains unclear whether the magnitude of BMD change in response to weight loss is appropriate (i.e., proportional to weight loss) and whether BMD is recovered with weight regain. We now report changes in BMD after a 1-year follow-up. Subjects (n = 23) in this secondary analysis were postmenopausal women randomized to placebo as part of a larger trial. They completed a 6-month exercise-based weight loss program and returned for follow-up at 18 months. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was performed at baseline, 6, and 18 months. At baseline, subjects were aged 56.8 ± 5.4 years (mean ± s.d.), 10.0 ± 9.2 years postmenopausal, and BMI was 29.6 ± 4.0 kg/m2. They lost 3.9 ± 3.5 kg during the weight loss intervention. During follow-up, they regained 2.9 ± 3.9 kg. Six months of weight loss resulted in a significant decrease in lumbar spine (LS) (−1.7 ± 3.5%; P = 0.002) and hip (−0.04 ± 3.5%; P = 0.03) BMD that was accompanied by an increase in a biomarker of bone resorption (serum C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, CTX: 34 ± 54%; P = 0.08). However, weight regain was not associated with LS (0.05 ± 3.8%; P = 0.15) or hip (−0.6 ± 3.0%; P = 0.81) bone regain or decreased bone resorption (CTX: −3 ± 37%; P = 0.73). The findings suggest that BMD lost during weight reduction may not be fully recovered with weight regain in hormone-deficient, postmenopausal women. Future studies are needed to identify effective strategies to prevent bone loss during periods of weight loss.
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Adipocyte Biology

Obesity 20, 270-277 (February 2012) | doi:10.1038/oby.2011.257

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Anne-Sophie Foucault
Véronique Mathé
René Lafont
Patrick Even
Waly Dioh
Stanislas Veillet
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Quinoa Extract Enriched in 20-Hydroxyecdysone Protects Mice From Diet-Induced Obesity and Modulates Adipokines Expression
Anne-Sophie Foucault, Véronique Mathé, René Lafont, Patrick Even, Waly Dioh, Stanislas Veillet, Daniel Tomé, Jean-François Huneau, Dominique Hermier and Annie Quignard-Boulangé

Abstract

Besides their well-known effect in the molting control in insects, ecdysteroids are steroid hormones that display potential pharmacologic and metabolic properties in mammals. The most common ecdysteroid, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) is found in many plants such as quinoa. The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of quinoa extract (Q) enriched in 20E supplementation to prevent the onset of diet-induced obesity and to regulate the expression of adipocyte-specific genes in mice. Mice were fed a standard low-fat (LF) or a high-fat (HF) diet with or without supplementation by 20E-enriched Q or pure 20E for 3 weeks. Supplementation with Q reduced adipose tissue development in HF mice without modification of their body weight gain. This adipose tissue-specific effect was mainly associated with a reduced adipocyte size and a decrease in the expression of several genes involved in lipid storage, including lipoprotein lipase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. Furthermore, Q-treated mice exhibited marked attenuation of mRNA levels of several inflammation markers (monocyte chemotactic protein-1, CD68) and insulin resistance (osteopontin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)) as compared to HF mice. Q supplementation also reversed the effects of HF-induced downregulation of the uncoupling protein(s) (UCP(s)) mRNA levels in muscle. Similar results were obtained in mice fed a HF diet supplemented with similar amounts of pure 20E, suggesting that the latter accounted for most of the Q effects. Our study indicates that Q has an antiobesity activity in vivo and could be used as a nutritional supplement for the prevention and treatment of obesity and obesity-associated disorders.
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