January 23, 2018

Health Benefits of Baobab

Nutritionists have identified baobab popularly called ‘Kuka’ in Hausa language as one of the foods with health benefits. The tree, which is widely grown in the northern part of the country, is said to be high in fibre , vitamin C and nutrients such as potassium and phosphorus. Baobab fruit is also high in calcium, magnesium, zinc, vitamin A, thiamin, B6 and bioflavonoids. It also acts as a prebiotic, that is a type of dietary fibre that feeds the friendly bacteria in your gut. This helps the gut bacteria produce nutrients for your colon cells and leads to a healthier […]
January 16, 2018

Three Nutrients That Can Help Prevent Memory Loss

With literally thousands of different supplements on the market, many of them claiming to help with memory, it can be quite daunting to know which, if any, you can take to help slow memory loss. In order to boost your cognition you need to ensure you are getting enough of certain nutrients. Here are some nutrients that can help you in improving your brain power: Magnesium Best known for helping quality of sleep, the mineral also has benefits for your memory too. A 2010 study published in the journal Neuron found that magnesium supplements improved working and long-term memory in […]
January 9, 2018

Drinking Beetroot Juice Before Exercise Can Boost Heart

A new study has recently revealed that beetroot juice before exercise can boost heart function in COPD patients. A Wake Forest University study to investigate the effects of acute beetroot juice ingestion on the exercise capacity of COPD patients showed some promise, but a larger clinical trial would be needed to verify results. COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, makes it difficult for patients to breathe and worsens over time. Patients often complain of shortness of breath with exertion, so tasks like climbing steps can leave them gasping for air. In turn, they tend to limit their activities, become more sedentary, and […]
January 3, 2018

Garlic Compound Fights Harmful Bacteria

Findings published on August 29, 2017 in the journal Scientific Reports support the ability of garlic to combat undesirable bacteria. Professor Michael Givskov of the University of Copenhagen and colleagues found that ajoene from garlic interferes with communication systems in the bacteria Staphylococcus aureusand Pseudomonas aeruginosa byinhibiting small regulatory RNA molecules. The sulfur-rich compound also inflicted damage on the bacteria’s protective biofilm, rendering it more susceptible to attack. “The two types of bacteria we have studied are very important,” noted first author Tim Holm Jakobsen of the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Immunology and Microbiology. “They are called Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They actually belong to two […]
December 29, 2017

The Sugar Industry’s Deceptive Practices

Readers of What’s Hot may recall an article published in 2016 which revealed the inclusion of publications provided by the Sugar Research Foundation (SRF) in the composition of a 1967 review that blamed fat for the coronary heart disease epidemic. In an article that appeared on November 21, 2017 in PLOS, Christin E. Kearns and colleagues examined SRF-funded Project 259. As part of Project 259, researchers at the University of Birmingham evaluated the relationship between dietary carbohydrates and blood lipids in bacteria-free rats. The study found that there was a significant decrease in serum triglycerides in germ free rats that received a high sugar diet […]