FOLATE AND ALZHEIMER’S Higher intake of the nutrient folate may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, but vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 did not yield the same benefit, found a study published January 8. The study, led by Jose Luchsinger, PhD of Columbia University Medical Center in New York, looked at 965 people aged […]

AIR FRESHENERS POSE ASTHMA RISK A recent study by the US National Institutes of Health looked at 11 chemical compounds given off by household products such as air fresheners, toilet deodorizers and mothballs and found no connection with health problems—with one notable exception: a gas known as 1,4-dichlorobenzene or 1,4-DCB that may be linked to […]

Cinnamon Lowers Blood Sugar Diabetics might be able to reduce their blood sugar by using a cinnamon extract, according to a study in the October 2006 issue of the European Journal of Clinical Investigation. People with diabetes have high blood sugar levels because their cells don’t respond to insulin, the hormone that signals when glucose […]

Berberine Lowers Blood Sugar Levels A traditional Chinese herb may be beneficial for people suffering from Type 2 diabetes. Berberine – found in the roots and barks of some plants – has been documented in Chinese literature to lower glucose levels in diabetics. Now western scientists have found that studies on rodents support this claim. […]

Ginger Helps Kidneys Ginger could help protect against kidney damage, a condition that threatens one in three diabetics. These are the results of an animal study published in the March 10, 2006 issue of Food Chemistry. The ginger plant (Zingiber officinale) is a rich source of antioxidants, including gingerols, shogaols, zingerones and other ketone derivatives. […]

Selenium Deficiency Linked to Arthritis Insufficient levels of selenium may raise the risk of knee osteoarthritis, according to research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Scientists found that for every additional 1/10th ppm selenium in volunteers’ bodies, there was a 15-20% decrease in their risk of knee osteoarthritis. This work is thought […]