A meta-analysis research article in this month’s Reumatology journal concluded that acupuncture is effective in relieving pain and assisting function for chronic knee pain. The authors made some impressive statements for a mainstream journal: (more…)
In yet another study showing the importance of healthy gut bacteria it is shown that probiotics during pregnancy and early in life reduce the incidence of IgE associated eczema. (think of IgE as the sort lived, quick onset reaction from foods, molds, animals etc.) This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 188 families with a history of allergic disease. Lactobacillus reuteri was given orally (more…)
In yet another study showing the importance of the vitamin of the year, Vitamin D, lower maternal intake is linked to an increase in wheezing among 5 year olds. The study was done here in New England (in Boston at the Brigham and Beth Israel) where the prevalence of asthma is the highest in the nation. (more…)
A recent pilot study concluded that acupuncture may be effective for hyperventilation anxiety. In a single-blind, crossover, pilot study involving 10 patients diagnosed with hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) - (more…)
An interesting study was released this week that made headlines stating Vitamin D can help prevent breast cancer. But reading the study what it really stated is that girls with the highest intake of Vitamin D during puberty/adolescents had the lowest incidence of breast cancer. Those with the highest amount of sun exposure had the lowest rates of breast cancer. This is very similar to my meta-analysis paper on soy phytoestrogen and breast cancer protection. (more…)
A study release this week which apparently made big press in France, but not a word here in the US showed that Monsanto GM corn caused hepatorenal toxicity in rats. This is GM corn that was approved for human consumption worldwide because research showed it was safe. Who published this safe research? (more…)
A study released last week from the European Journal of Nutrition concluded that the intake of prebiotics and probiotics may reduce the amount of carcinogenic compounds in the intestines. Our American diet is devoid of fermented foods that would traditionally provide our intestines with probiotics. Foods such as miso, sauerkraut, kefir, kimchee etc that have been traditionally for centuries are lacking in the American diet - or if we can buy them from the supermarket they are pasteurized and thereby worthless in terms of beneficial gut bacteria. (more…)
A new study released last week concluded that adding milk to black tea counteracts the positive health effects it provides for vascular function. The researchers compared the dilation effects of fresh black tea, black tea w/milk and boiled water as a control. They found that the tea with milk had no vascular benefit at all.
What is the larger message here? That just because some food, herb or supplement contains a particular ingredient that supposedly causes some reaction in the body doesn’t mean it will.
A recent study showed that women who took the Pill for at least 6 months had significantly lower concentrations of CoQ10 and Vitamin E than women who were not on the Pill. CoQ10 and vitamin E, fat soluble anti-oxidants support energy production and protects against free radical damage. CoQ10 is produced by the human body and is necessary for mitochondrial energy production as well as antioxidant protection. Although the researchers did not discuss it in their article it is interesting that the lower concentrations of Vitamin E can be because of a CoQ10 reduction, as CoQ10 helps ‘recycle’ Vitamin E. (more…)
