A study from the University of Southampton reported that higher intake of vitamin D during late-stage pregnancy was linked to stronger bones and teeth in children.3 “This study shows for the first time that maternal vitamin-D levels may have an influence on the primary dentition and the development of early-childhood-caries,” wrote Robert Schroth. Caries is a progressive destruction of bone or teeth. The study assessed dietary habits of 206 pregnant [...]
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Better eye health may prevent psychosocial consequences, according to a study printed in the Archives of Ophthalmology.2 Visual impairment often leads to health consequences including social isolation, mental impairment, dependency on others, vehicle crashes, falls, fractures and depression, sometimes even leading to suicide. Increased mortality risks have been noted in adults with visual impairment and disabling eye disease according to a data review of National Health Surveys by Byrom Lam, [...]
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Observational data suggests that low levels of vitamin D may be associated with a substantially higher risk of death. A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine studied all-cause, cancer and cardiovascular disease deaths of 13,331 initially healthy adults from an ongoing national health survey. Data was collected from 1988 through 1994 and participants were followed through 2000. Over 8.7 years, there were 1806 deaths, including 777 from cardiovascular disease, [...]
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There are four major causes for age-related visual loss: cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinopathy, and glaucoma. Glaucoma is one of the main causes of blindness, and is said to affect some 2.22m US citizens at the moment. The most important variable risk factor for developing glaucoma is the slow destruction the optic nerve, referred to as intraocular hypertension (IOP). Timely lowering of IOP significantly lowers the likelihood of developing [...]
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When Mom and Dad told you to eat your carrots because they were good for your eyes, they were on the right track. As researchers continue to document that we really are what we eat, the value of nutrition in eye health becomes clearer and more accepted. It is not surprising then that nutrition can play an essential role in cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma and dry eyes. Presently, we are [...]
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According to a new study published in Nutrition, lycopene may have an added heart health benefit in regards to maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. Lycopene is an antioxidant present in red and pink colored fruits (such as tomatoes). A study from the Central South University Changsha, China, researched 40 male adult rabbits over an 8-week period. The animals were fed a high-fat diet, either without lycopene, 2 different doses of lycopene [...]
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Omega-3 fatty acids may affect appetite sensations after a meal, according an article in Appetite.* During calorie restricted weight loss, volunteers who ingested more Omega-3 experienced a feeling of fullness for longer. The study included 232 overweight and obese participants averaging 31 years old and a Body Mass Index of 28.3. They were then given varying amount of Omega-3 for eight weeks. Higher doses of Omega-3 led to fewer hunger [...]
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According to a study cited in the Archives of Internal Medicine, higher levels of vitamin D were associated with lower overall death rates from cardiovascular causes.* The Australian study included 3,258 patients, average age 62 ,for coronary angiography testing. Blood samples were taken the morning of the test. Over 7.7 years, 463 of the participants died from cardiovascular causes. These results fit into the enlarging picture of adverse effects that [...]
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Alzheimer’ Disease is the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer’s is a “progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain’s nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes,” as defined by the Alzheimer’s Association of America. It is caused by the build-up of plaque from beta-amyloid deposits and is associated with an increase in brain cell damage and death from physiological stress on [...]
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A new study, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, suggests that antioxidants may have a positive effect on chronic Gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) associated with esophageal cancer.* The study of 913 people included an 110-item food frequency questionnaire to determine dietary and supplemental intakes of antioxidants. Dietary intake of vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene were inversely associated with the risk of Barrett’s esophagus. Barrett’s esophagus refers to [...]
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