A recent Australian study shows that a diet high in red meat is tied to early age-related macular degeneration. A group of 5604 subjects in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, aged 58-69 years old completed a food frequency questionnaire from their past year. Red meat consumption of at least 10 times weekly was associated with a higher risk of early AMD (late AMD was not associated). Chicken, however, was not [...]
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A new study suggests that the combination of supplements omega-3, vitamin C and zinc, may improve the symptoms of childhood asthma. The findings of this randomized, double blind, placebo-self-controlled crossover trial were published in Acta Pædiatrica.* The study, led by Mohammed Al Biltagi from Tanta University in Egypt, adds to a growing body of science linking fish consumption and fruit and vegetable intakes to a reduction in the risk or [...]
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New research from Australia, links supplements of B6 and B12, and folic acid to a decrease in migraines. According to findings to be published in an upcoming issue of Pharmacogenetics and Genomics, scientists recruited 52 people diagnosed with migraine with aura. The participants were randomly assigned to receive either vitamin supplements of 2mg of folic acid, 25mg vitamin B6, 400 micrograms of B12, or a placebo, for six months. Results [...]
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Carotenoids are very important for your body and must come from your diet. Some examples of carotenoids are beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene.* A recent study of 370 men and 576 women (from the Framingham Osteoporosis Study) with a mean age of 75 years old examined the link between intake of carotenoids and the risk of hip fracture and non-vertebral osteoporotic fracture. When accounting for other risk factors, the study [...]
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Due to research indicating the protective effects that vitamin D may have against conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, there have recently been requests in the scientific and public communities to raise the recommended levels of vitamin D.* At the end of 2008, both the US and Canadian governments announced they would be reviewing vitamin D and calcium, which may lead to higher recommended daily intakes. A new [...]
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With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner many people may be partaking in adult beverages and eating traditional Irish foods like corn beef and cabbage. However, those prone to gout should watch both their alcohol consumption and their diet. Gout flair ups can be induced by foods containing purines. Ingestion of foods high in purines can raise uric acid levels in the blood and precipitate gout attacks in some people.* [...]
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Lutein, a nutrient found in various foods including green leafy vegetables and egg yolk, can be taken in supplement form to help reduce the risk of age related macular degeneration (AMD).* Research has also shown breakthroughs in skin and heart health. A new study from Beijing-based researchers, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, has noted improvements in the sensitivity to contrast on a computer screen in subjects taking lutein! [...]
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Oxford-based researchers, in collaboration with researchers from the University of British Columbia in Canada, have found evidence that lack of vitamin D may increase multiple sclerosis (MS) risk. They report that vitamin D may interact with a specific genetic component called HLA-DRB1*1501 that is known to increase the risk of MS. Similar findings were reported in a study published in Journal of the American Medical Association in December 2006. That [...]
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A recent study suggested that omega-3 supplementation may increase dopamine levels, thereby boosting mood. This gives fuel to an article published in Nutrition this month. The study, led by Laura Colangelo, analyzed dietary intakes of fish, EPA and DHA amongst 3,317 African-American and Caucasian men and women. The average age of the participants at the start of the study was 35. Symptoms of depression were measured using the 20-item Center [...]
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Researchers from Madrid’s Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro report that fortifying fermented milk with lutein may have health benefits, including eye health, according to results of a human study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. Lutein, a nutrient found in various foods including green leafy vegetables and egg yolk, has a history in the dietary supplement market as a nutrient to reduce the risk of age related macular degeneration [...]
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