Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Clean living 'slows cell ageing'

BBC NEWS | Health | Clean living 'slows cell ageing':
2008.09.15
"Taking more exercise and eating the right foods may help increase levels of an enzyme vital for guarding against age-related cell damage, work suggests...Among 24 men asked to adopt healthy lifestyle changes for a US study in The Lancet Oncology, levels of telomerase increased by 29% on average...a diet high in fruit and vegetables, supplements of vitamins and fish oils, an exercise regimen and classes in stress management, relaxation techniques and breathing exercises...Increases in telomerase activity were linked with decreases in "bad" LDL cholesterol and decreases in one measure of stress - intrusive thoughts...there is evidence to suggest that telomere shortness and low telomerase activity might be important risk factors for cancer and cardiovascular disease..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Fish in children's diet cuts eczema risk

Fish in children's diet cuts eczema risk: study - Yahoo! News:
2008.09.24
"Feeding babies as little as one portion of fish before they are nine months old may cut their risk of developing eczema, Swedish researchers said on Thursday...Introducing fish of any type into the diet curbed the risk of contracting the skin condition by 25 percent compared with children who never ate it..."There was no link with the amount of fish or type of fish. We think it is more the timing of the introduction."..."It must have something to do with its influence on the developing immune system,"..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Outdoor pools boost child's asthma risk

Outdoor pools boost child's asthma risk: study - Yahoo! News: 2008.09.24
" Swimming in outdoor chlorinated pools appears to increase the odds a child will develop asthma...Other studies have linked chlorine and asthma but the new findings published in the European Respiratory Journal cast doubt on the idea outdoor pools are safer than indoor ones where chlorine vapors remains trapped inside an enclosed space..."The more you swim, the higher the risk"...And because children tend to spend more time in pools they are more likely to swallow chlorinated water or ingest vapors containing chemicals that attack the cellular barriers protecting the lung from allergens...Children with the highest pool attendance -- one hour per week for 10 years -- were five times more likely to be asthmatic than young people who had never swum in a pool..."Young children are more exposed because they take more water into their airways and their lungs are still developing,"..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Vitamin B-12 may prevent memory loss

BBC NEWS | Health | Vitamin 'may prevent memory loss':
2009.09.09
"Older people with lower than average vitamin B12 levels were more than six times more likely to experience brain shrinkage, researchers concluded..."This study adds another dimension to our understanding of the effects of B vitamins on the brain - the rate of shrinkage of the brain as we age may be partly influenced by what we eat." ...Shrinkage has been strongly linked with a higher risk of developing dementia at a later stage..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Antioxidant cream guards skin from UV damage

Antioxidant cream guards skin from UV damage - Yahoo! News: "Thu Sep 18, 2008
"(Reuters Health) - A cream containing vitamin C, vitamin E and ferulic acid protects the skin from sun damage and reduces cancer-associated mutations in skin cells, new research shows...The cream's "mechanism of action is different from sunscreens and would be expected to supplement the sun protection provided by sunscreens,"...The active cream almost completely blocked the production of thymine dimers, a type of UV-related genetic damage, as well as the induction of the tumor suppressor gene p53...While unprotected skin exposed to UV radiation produced substances called cytokines that promote inflammation and suppress immune system function, protected skin did not..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Dietary trans fatty acids may be linked to fetal loss

Dietary trans fatty acids may be linked to fetal loss - Yahoo! News:
Thu Sep 18, 2008
"NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Trans fatty acids, the much maligned 'solid' fats implicated as artery-clogging contributors to cardiovascular disease, may also increase the risk of fetal death during pregnancy, study findings suggest...Earlier studies have also found a relationship between a diet high in trans fatty acids and increased insulin resistance. This, in turn, increases the activity of plasminogen activator inhibitor, which has been associated with fetal loss...After categorizing the study population according to average trans fat intake, the investigators found the rate of fetal loss increased from 30 percent among those with the lowest intake of trans fat in the diet (2.2 percent of total calories on average) to 52 percent among women with the highest intake of trans fat (defined as 4.7 percent of total calories)...As the percent of calories from trans fat increased, so did the risk of having one or more fetal losses, Glueck and colleagues report. This association was independent of body mass, insulin and glucose levels, and other factors potentially associated with risk for fetal loss..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Mom's Mood, Baby's Sleep: What's The Connection?

Mom's Mood, Baby's Sleep: What's The Connection?: "ScienceDaily (Sep. 2, 2008) - ...those first six months of life are crucial to developing the regular sleeping and waking patterns, known as circadian rhythms, that a child will need for a healthy future...Babies whose mothers experienced depression any time before they became pregnant, or developed mood problems while they were pregnant, are much more prone to having chaotic sleep patterns in the first half-year of life than babies born to non-depressed moms...infants born to depressed moms nap more during the day, take much longer to settle down to sleep at night, and wake up more often during the night. It's a baby form of the insomnia that millions of adults know all too well..."Keeping a very regular sleep schedule is incredibly important," says Armitage. "We know that for both children and adults, and from this study we now know that for infants, the more stable the bedtime the less chaotic sleep is during the night."...Armitage and her team have devoted years to studying the links between sleep and depression, and the circadian rhythms, light-dark exposure, and other factors that appear to make a difference in sleep and mood. Over the past decade, they've shown that all are strongly linked..."We think we've identified one of the risk factors that may contribute to these infants' going on to develop depression later in life," says Armitage. "Not everybody who has poor sleep or weak circadian rhythms will develop depression, but if sleep stays consistently disrupted and circadian rhythms are weak, the risk is significantly elevated."...That's why, she says, it's so crucial to help all babies – and new parents – get the sleep they need."...Those first few months, in fact, are a kind of training camp for the baby's sleep in the future, Armitage says. Babies' bodies and brains need to be trained to understand that they should sleep when it's dark, and be awake when it's light – the basic circadian rhythm that governs sleep patterns for a person's entire life. This sets the baby's "body clock" right from the start..."

At some point in time the mainstream media will wake up and begin covering the story about how amazingly sensitive hundreds of genes are during prenatal and postnatal. OB's also need to become educated. Research clearly shows that certain foods, supplements and actions can change the health of your child... for life. You'd think this topic would be front page news on a regular basis... as it is this story on sleep, like so many others, is almost completely under appreciated in terms of significance.

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Why Folate Might Reduce Colon Cancer

New Evidence On Folic Acid In Diet And Colon Cancer: "ScienceDaily (Sep. 1, 2008) — Researchers in the United Kingdom and Texas are reporting a new, more detailed explanation for the link between low folate intake and an increased risk for colon cancer...scientists grew human colon cells in folate-depleted and folate-enriched tissue culture. They found that folate depletion caused increased DNA damage and a cascade of other biological changes linked to an increased cancer risk."

Sloppy work by the authors. Folate is the natural form, folic acid is the synthetic form. Folic acid has it's benefits but it has also been tied to various cancers. The evidence is fairly clear, so get this B vitamin from natural sources if you can.

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/folate.asp


FoodMicrograms (μg)% DV^
*Breakfast cereals fortified with 100% of the DV, ¾ cup 400100
Beef liver, cooked, braised, 3 ounces18545
Cowpeas (blackeyes), immature, cooked, boiled, ½ cup10525



Spinach, frozen, cooked, boiled, ½ cup10025
Great Northern beans, boiled, ½ cup9020
Asparagus, boiled, 4 spears8520



Vegetarian baked beans, canned, 1 cup6015
Spinach, raw, 1 cup6015
Green peas, frozen, boiled, ½ cup 5015
Broccoli, chopped, frozen, cooked, ½ cup 5015



Broccoli, raw, 2 spears (each 5 inches long)4510
Avocado, raw, all varieties, sliced, ½ cup sliced4510
Peanuts, all types, dry roasted, 1 ounce4010
Lettuce, Romaine, shredded, ½ cup 4010
Wheat germ, crude, 2 Tablespoons4010
Tomato Juice, canned, 6 ounces3510
Orange juice, chilled, includes concentrate, ¾ cup3510
Turnip greens, frozen, cooked, boiled, ½ cup308
Orange, all commercial varieties, fresh, 1 small308






Egg, whole, raw, fresh, 1 large256
Cantaloupe, raw, ¼ medium256
Papaya, raw, ½ cup cubes 256
Banana, raw, 1 medium206

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Walking Boosts Brainpower

Walking Boosts Brainpower: WebMD
3008.09.02
"Older adults who take a brisk stroll just three times a week could boost their brainpower and reduce the risk of memory-robbing illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease...Those in the exercise group scored higher on cognitive tests and had better delayed recall. For example, they could more accurately remember a list of words after a certain amount of time had passed...the benefits could be seen after 6 months and that they lasted for at least a year after the program's end..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Genetic Key to Longevity?

Genetic Key to Longevity?: "Sept. 2, 2008 -- Scientists looking into aging say they've found a gene that's related to living a long and healthy life...One gene called FOXO3A caught the researchers' attention. Participants who were in better health had similarities on that gene...The study showed the long-lived group was leaner (lower waist-to-hip ratio), had lower levels of blood fats (triglycerides), lower glucose and insulin levels, and greater prevalence of FOXO3A gene variation at baseline..."up to 50% of the variation in human life span might be explained by genetic differences."...The FOXO3A gene is located on what researchers call the "insulin signaling pathway" and may be linked to how cells respond to stress...In studies done with mice and roundworms, genes that are along the insulin signaling pathway seem to protect against obesity that can come with aging, stress on a cellular level, and life span."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Helmet law halved child bike deaths

Helmet law halved child bike deaths - Yahoo! News:
2008.09.02
"The number of bike-related deaths among children younger than 16 fell by more than half after a Canadian bike-helmet law went into effect..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

High fiber intake may cut preeclampsia risk

High fiber intake may cut preeclampsia risk - Yahoo! News:
2008.08.02
"Pregnant women who increase their fiber intake by 5 grams a day -- the equivalent of 2 slices of whole grain bread -- may reduce their risk of developing preeclampsia by about 14 percent, researchers report...Women who reported eating at least 21.2 grams of total fiber a day, compared with those eating less than 11.9 grams daily, were 67 percent less likely to develop preeclampsia...They calculate that every 5-gram increase in daily fiber intake led to a 14 percent reduction in preeclampsia risk...Moreover, women with the highest fiber intake had triglycerides nearly 12 points lower and high-density lipoproteins ('good' cholesterol) more than 2.6 points higher than women with the lowest daily fiber intake..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Broccoli Could Reverse The Heart Damaging Effects Of Diabetes

Broccoli Could Reverse The Heart Damaging Effects Of Diabetes: "ScienceDaily (Aug. 26, 2008) — Researchers have discovered eating broccoli could undo the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels...a broccoli compound called Sulforaphane. This compound can encourage the body to produce more enzymes to protect the vessels, as well as reduce high levels of molecules which cause significant cell damage...Past studies have shown that a diet rich in vegetables – particularly brassica vegetables such as broccoli – is linked to decreased risk of heart disease and stroke...The results of the study showed that Sulforaphane reversed this increase in ROS by 73 per cent...Sulforaphane activated a protein in the body called nrf2, which protects cells and tissues from oxidative stress by activating protective antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes. The study showed the presence of Sulforaphane in human microvascular cells doubled the activation of nrf2..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Black Raspberries Slow Cancer By Altering Hundreds Of Genes

Black Raspberries Slow Cancer By Altering Hundreds Of Genes: "ScienceDaily (Aug. 27, 2008) — New research strongly suggests that a mix of preventative agents, such as those found in concentrated black raspberries, may more effectively inhibit cancer development than single agents aimed at shutting down a particular gene...Researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center examined the effect of freeze-dried black raspberries on genes altered by a chemical carcinogen in an animal model of esophageal cancer...The carcinogen affected the activity of some 2,200 genes in the animals’ esophagus in only one week, but 460 of those genes were restored to normal activity in animals that consumed freeze-dried black raspberry powder as part of their diet during the exposure...“We have clearly shown that berries, which contain a variety of anticancer compounds, have a genome-wide effect on the expression of genes involved in cancer development,”...Stoner notes that black raspberries have vitamins, minerals, phenols and phytosterols, many of which individually are known to prevent cancer in animals...“Freeze drying the berries concentrates these elements about ten times, giving us a power pack of chemoprevention agents that can influence the different signaling pathways that are deregulated in cancer,” he says...“What’s emerging from studies in cancer chemoprevention is that using single compounds alone is not enough,” Stoner says. “And berries are not enough. We never get 100 percent tumor inhibition with berries. So we need to think about another food that we can add to them that will boost the chemopreventive activities of berries alone.”..."

Another part of the equation must surely be the chemoprevention found in cruciferous vegetables - such as sulforaphanes in broccoli.

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

How Diet, Antioxidants Prevent Blindness In Aging Population

How Diet, Antioxidants Prevent Blindness In Aging Population: "ScienceDaily (Aug. 27, 2008) — A new study reveals part of the magic behind a diet rich in antioxidants, showing how artichokes, blueberries and pecans can hold at bay the leading cause of age-related blindness in developed countries...Researchers at Brigham Young University and Weill Medical College of Cornell University discovered a link between two processes in the retina that, in combination, contribute to a disease called macular degeneration. They found antioxidants disrupt the link and extend the lifetime of irreplaceable photoreceptors and other retinal cells..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Researchers link cocoa flavanols to improved brain blood flow

Researchers link cocoa flavanols to improved brain blood flow: "(August 18, 2008) – Cocoa flavanols, the unique compounds found naturally in cocoa, may increase blood flow to the brain...The researchers suggest that long-term improvements in brain blood flow could impact cognitive behavior, offering future potential for debilitating brain conditions including dementia and stroke...n a scientific study of healthy, older adults ages 59 to 83, Harvard medical scientists found that study participants who regularly drank a cocoa flavanol-rich beverage made using the Mars, Incorporated Cocoapro® process had an eight percent increase in brain blood flow after one week, and 10 percent increase after two weeks...The body of research not only suggests that cocoa flavanols may provide a dietary approach to maintaining cardiovascular function and health, but also points at new possibilities for cocoa flavanol-based interventions for vascular complications associated with cognitive performance, skin health and age-related blood vessel dysfunction..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Plant-based flavonoids may cut ovarian cancer risk

Plant-based flavonoids may cut ovarian cancer risk - Yahoo! News:
2008.08.22
"women with the highest flavonol intake were 37 percent less likely to have ovarian cancer than women with the lowest flavonol intake...High intake of isoflavones cut ovarian cancer risk by 49 percent...Isoflavones are found in tea and soy foods, both of which have been linked to a lower ovarian cancer risk, possibly due to isoflavones' estrogen-blocking effects, Rossi and her colleagues note...Flavonols are found in many fruits and vegetables, they add. Adjusting the findings for women's fruit and vegetable intake didn't change the relationship between flavonol intake and ovarian cancer risk, the researchers note, suggesting that "flavonols may have a distinct role in explaining the effect of fruit and vegetable against ovarian cancer.""

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

DHEA doesn't appear to boost brain power, well-being

DHEA may not boost brain power, well-being - Yahoo! News:
2008.08.22
"By the year's end, the researchers found no clear differences between the two groups in tests of memory and other cognitive abilities. Nor did DHEA seem to benefit participants' general well-being and quality of life -- as measured by standard questionnaires on depression symptoms, life satisfaction, sexual function and general physical and mental health...supplement users in her study saw their initial DHEA levels rise by two to four times. Despite this restoration of "youthful" levels, Kritz-Silverstein noted, there were no improvements in cognitive function or well-being."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Killer Carbs -- Scientist Finds Key To Overeating As We Age

Killer Carbs -- Scientist Finds Key To Overeating As We Age: "ScienceDaily (Aug. 22, 2008) — A Monash University scientist has discovered key appetite control cells in the human brain degenerate over time, causing increased hunger and potentially weight-gain as we grow older...cells are attacked by free radicals after eating and said the degeneration is more significant following meals rich in carbohydrates and sugars..."When the stomach is empty, it triggers the ghrelin hormone that notifies the brain that we are hungry. When we are full, a set of neurons known as POMC's kick in. "However, free radicals created naturally in the body attack the POMC neurons. This process causes the neurons to degenerate overtime, affecting our judgement as to when our hunger is satisfied,"..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Monday, August 11, 2008

Use Of Cleaning Products During Pregnancy Increases Risk Of Asthma In Young Children

Use Of Cleaning Products During Pregnancy Increases Risk Of Asthma In Young Children: "ScienceDaily (Aug. 7, 2008) — Women who use a lot of household cleaning products when they are pregnant, or shortly after giving birth, are increasing their child’s risk of developing asthma. That’s according to the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents of Children (ALSPAC, also known as Children of the Nineties), that recruited over 13,000 children from before birth and has followed them to post 16...early life exposure to the chemicals contained in household cleaning products was linked to a 41% increase in a child’s chances of developing asthma by the age of 7 years...“Previous research has shown that a child’s risk of developing asthma is lower if he or she is exposed to bacteria or bacterial products (endotoxins) in early life (‘hygiene hypothesis’), probably because it assists in the development of a child’s immune system...However, our research suggests that one possible mechanism for this hypothesis may involve the chemicals found in domestic cleaning products. These chemicals have been linked to increased risk of asthma with additional evidence from studies of workers who have exposure to cleaning chemicals”."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

New Evidence On Benefits Of Breast Feeding

New Evidence On Benefits Of Breast Feeding: "ScienceDaily (Aug. 11, 2008) — Researchers in Switzerland and Australia are reporting identification of proteins in human breast-milk — not present in cow's milk — that may fight disease by helping remove bacteria, viruses and other dangerous pathogen's from an infant's gastrointestinal tract... fat particles in human milk are coated with particular variants of two sugar-based proteins, called MUC-1 and MUC-4. Previous studies by others have shown that these proteins can block certain receptors in the GI tract that are the main attachment sites for E. coli, Helicobacter pylori and other disease-causing microbes, thereby preventing infection. By contrast, since cow's milk lacks these protein variants, it may not offer the same disease protection..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Eat Oily Fish At Least Once A Week To Protect Your Eyesight In Old Age

Eat Oily Fish At Least Once A Week To Protect Your Eyesight In Old Age: Science Daily
2008.08.11
"...people who habitually consume oily fish at least once a week compared with less than once a week are 50% less likely to have wet AMD. There was no benefit from consumption of non oily white fish. There was a strong inverse association between levels of DHA and EPA and wet AMD. People in the top 25% of DHA and EPA levels (300 mg per day and above) were 70% less likely to have wet AMD..."


DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Low vitamin D shown to raise death risk

Low vitamin D shown to raise death risk: U.S. study - Yahoo! News:
2008.08.11
"Adults with a vitamin D deficiency are more likely to die than those with high levels, another indication of the nutrient's vital role in guarding against ailments from heart disease to cancer...Those with the lowest levels of the "sunshine vitamin" had a 26 percent increased risk of death over eight years compared to those with the highest levels..."We think we have additional evidence to consider adding vitamin D deficiency as a distinct and separate risk factor for death from cardiovascular disease, putting it alongside much better known and understood risk factors such as age, gender, family history, smoking, high blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, obesity and diabetes," ...Scientists have evidence that Vitamin D helps lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation and boost the immune system..."


DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Want to live a long life? Run

Want to live a long life? Run - Yahoo! News:
2008.08.11
"A study published on Monday shows middle-aged members of a runner's club were half as likely to die over a 20-year period as people who did not run...Running reduced the risk not only of heart disease, but of cancer and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, researchers at Stanford University in California found...Any type of vigorous exercise will likely do the trick..."Members of the running groups had significantly lower mean disability levels at all time points"...People who took up exercise when they were older also improved their health...The study also showed that people cannot use the risk of injury as an excuse not to run -- the runners had fewer injuries of all kinds, including to their knees."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Chronic protein deficiency hard on kids' brains

Chronic protein deficiency hard on kids' brains - Yahoo! News: "NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Chronic protein deficiency may cause delays in a child's brain development that improve little over time...malnourished children had problems with tests of attention, memory, visual perception, verbal comprehension and other so-called "higher cognitive processes."...Moreover, there was only minimal improvement with age. The cognitive performance of malnourished 5- to 7-year-olds was "poor and much lower" than that of adequately nourished children their age, and the gap was not much smaller among 8- to 10-year-olds...A chronic lack of protein does not seem to affect basic cognitive processes like movement speed, which is affected in cases of other nutritional deficiencies, the investigators note..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Child Development: Lack Of Time On Tummy Shown To Hinder Achievement

Child Development: Lack Of Time On Tummy Shown To Hinder Achievement: "ScienceDaily (Aug. 7, 2008) —
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is urging parents and caregivers to ensure that babies get enough 'tummy time' throughout the day while they are awake and supervised, in light of a recent survey of therapists who say they've noticed an increase in motor delays in infants who spend too much time on their backs while awake..."We have seen first-hand what the lack of tummy time can mean for a baby: developmental, cognitive, and organizational skills delays, eye-tracking problems, and behavioral issues, to name just some complications." She added, "New parents are told of the importance of babies sleeping on their backs to avoid SIDS, but they are not always informed about the importance of tummy time."..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Compound That Helps Rice Grow Reduces Nerve, Vascular Damage From Diabetes

Compound That Helps Rice Grow Reduces Nerve, Vascular Damage From Diabetes: "ScienceDaily (July 30, 2008)
...Researchers have found that a compound that helps rice seed grow, springs back into action when brown rice is placed in water overnight before cooking, significantly reducing the nerve and vascular damage that often result from diabetes...the growth factor acylated steryl glucosides or ASG, helps normalize blood sugar and enzymes that are out-of-whack in diabetes...Unlike white rice, less-processed brown rice still has some of the germ or growth structure that, after about 24 hours in water, resumes activity. Scientists watched as the resurrected ASG, a growth factor and lipid, helped normalize metabolism...Germination also is known to increase levels of the neurotransmitter GABA, which is believed to have many beneficial health effects such as lowering blood pressure, improving cognition and lowering blood glucose levels."


DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Spices May Protect Against Consequences Of High Blood Sugar

Spices May Protect Against Consequences Of High Blood Sugar: "ScienceDaily (Aug. 7, 2008) — Herbs and spices are rich in antioxidants, and a new University of Georgia study suggests they are also potent inhibitors of tissue damage and inflammation caused by high levels of blood sugar...when blood sugar levels are high, a process known as protein glycation occurs in which the sugar bonds with proteins to eventually form what are known as advanced glycation end products, also known as AGE compounds. The acronym is fitting because these compounds activate the immune system, resulting in the inflammation and tissue damage associated with aging and diabetes...The researchers found a strong and direct correlation between the phenol content of common herbs and spices and their ability to inhibit the formation of AGE compounds. Spices such as cloves and cinnamon had phenol levels that were 30 percent and 18 percent of dry weight, respectively, while herbs such as oregano and sage were eight and six percent phenol by dry weight, respectively. For comparison, blueberries – which are widely touted for their antioxidant capabilities – contain roughly five percent phenol by dry weight..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Vitamin C injections 'slows cancer growth'

BBC NEWS | Health | Vitamin C 'slows cancer growth':
2008.08.04
"An injection of a high dose of vitamin C may be able to hold back the advance of cancers, US scientists claim...The vitamin may start a destructive chain reaction within the cancer cell, they add. The jab halved the size of brain, ovarian and pancreatic tumours in mice...The dose they employed - up to four grams per kilo of bodyweight - was far greater than any that could be achieved using diet or vitamin pills, as the digestive system does not absorb more than a fixed amount taken orally...Tumour growth and weight fell by between 41% and 53%, and while in untreated mice, the disease spread rapidly to involve other body parts, no such spread was seen in the vitamin C-treated animals...The vitamin C reacts with this chemical make-up, producing enough hydrogen peroxide to kill the cell, while leaving healthy cells unscathed.

However, Dr Alison Ross, from Cancer Research UK said that much more work would have to be done to see if vitamin C could be a viable treatment..."

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life

Broccoli may undo diabetes damage

BBC NEWS | Health | Broccoli may undo diabetes damage:
2008.08.05
"A University of Warwick team believe the key is a compound found in the vegetable, called sulforaphane...It encourages production of enzymes which protect the blood vessels, and a reduction in high levels of molecules which cause significant cell damage. Brassica vegetables such as broccoli have previously been linked to a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes...They recorded a 73% reduction of molecules in the body called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)...Hyperglycaemia can cause levels of ROS to increase three-fold and such high levels can damage human cells...The researchers also found that sulforaphane activated a protein in the body called nrf2, which protects cells and tissues from damage by activating protective antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes... "

DogVitals powerful antioxidant supplement for dogs - helping dogs live a younger, healthier life