Life Extension, Author at FoodTrients

June 9, 2015

The Health Power of Coconuts

Anyone remember the 1994 exposé of movie theater popcorn? This cinema staple, known for its delicious taste and aroma, had been consumed for years by a public blissfully unaware of the fact that it was loaded with demonized saturated fat. Movie theatre popcorn was (gasp) popped in coconut oil, an “evil” tropical fat that had no place in a healthy diet. As a result, concession stand popcorn sales dropped by half and many venues scrambled for an alternative. Fast forward twenty years, and coconuts, which never went out of favor in their native countries, are now touted for their health benefits. […]

June 2, 2015

Published by Life Extension

Researched Health Benefits of Turmeric

Over the centuries, the root-like stem of the Curcuma longa plant has been used to make yellow dyes and spike food with some tasty zing. But an ever-growing mountain of evidence shows that boldly colored turmeric with its earthy, bitter-gingery taste may offer a plethora of potential health benefits. Multiple studies — most originating in India, Europe and Australia — show that turmeric, and especially its color-rich constituent of curcumin, can help prevent or treat a wide spectrum of cancers, inflammatory conditions, autoimmune problems, neurological ailments including Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and diabetes neuropathy, among other metabolic diseases. Interest in turmeric and curcumin began […]

May 26, 2015

Published by Life Extension

Obesity Cure Simply Too Simple

Are you a Feaster, Emotional Eater or Constant Craver? If so, you are among an increasing number of obese people struggling with weight issues and the confusion caused by a wealth of diet and exercise advice, Robert Matthews writes. Obesity: huge problem, simple solution – eat less, exercise more. That’s it. But with more than half of the UAE population now struggling with weight issues, that message from health officials clearly is not working. This month, World Health Organisation statistics revealed that more than a third of men and almost half of women over 18 are not merely overweight, but clinically obese. That means they face much […]

May 19, 2015

Published by Life Extension

Unexpected Benefits of Olive Leaf Extract

Scientists have isolated the unique molecule that provides olive oil with its multitude of health and life-extending benefits. Known as oleuropein, it is the polyphenol that can help lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure, prevent cancer, protect against oxidative damage, and help guard against cognitive decline. Oleuropein provides the distinctive tangy, pungent, almost bitter flavor found in high quality extra virgin olive oils. It’s also responsible for most of olive oil’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and disease-fighting characteristics. In fact, when oleuropein was given to animals with tumors, the tumors completely regressed and disappeared in 9 to 12 days! The olive tree (Olea europaea) produces oleuropein abundantly […]

May 12, 2015

Published by Life Extension

More Magnesium Equals Lower Stroke Risk

The results of a large cohort study and updated meta-analyses, published on May 6, 2015 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, add evidence to a protective effect for magnesium and potassium against the risk of stroke in women. For the prospective cohort study, Harvard researchers evaluated data from 86,149 women enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study I (NHS I) and 94,715 participants in the NHS II. Dietary questionnaires completed by NHS I participants in 1980, 1984, 1986 and every four years thereafter, and in 1991 and every four years thereafter in the NHS II were analyzed for the intake of calcium, magnesium […]

May 12, 2015

Published by Life Extension

Combine Nuts and Olive Oil With Mediterranean Diet

Consuming plant-based Mediterranean diet with virgin olive oil or mixed nuts can lead to improved cognitive function in older adults, suggests a new study. Spanish researchers Emilio Ros, M.D., Ph.D., and Ciber Fisiopatologia along with colleagues compared a Mediterranean diet supplemented with olive oil or nuts with a low-fat control diet. The randomized clinical trial included 447 cognitively healthy volunteers (223 were women; average age was nearly 67 years) who were at high cardiovascular risk and were enrolled in the Prevencion con Dieta Mediterranea nutrition intervention. The authors measured cognitive change over time with a battery of neuropsychological tests and they […]

May 5, 2015

Published by Life Extension

Fluoride in Water Linked to Low Thyroid

The fluoridation of the American water supply started in 1951. The rationale was that fluoride would help to prevent cavities. Today, it’s estimated that about 62% percent of the U.S. population receives fluoridated water. Many have questioned the safety of this practice, fearing that fluoride may do more harm than good. And in some countries, the fluoridation of water has been banned. A recent study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health shows fluoridation may be linked to low thyroid function. Low thyroid function, in turn, was linked to depression. Fluoridated Water May Double the Risk of Hypothyroidism Previous studies associate fluoride […]

May 5, 2015

Published by Life Extension

New Strategy to Overcome “Emotional Eating”

Even when faced with life-threatening diseases related to their corpulence, most overweight people simply cannot manage to eat less. One overlooked reason for today’s obesity epidemic is a stress-induced disorder known as “emotional eating.” Consuming certain foods, especially high-glycemic carbohydrates, bolsters “feel-good” brain neurotransmitters such as serotonin that are depleted by stress. While increasing brain serotonin levels through high-carbohydrate meals can help elevate mood in the short term, ingesting ever-greater amounts of dietary carbohydrates often leads to weight gain and a cascade of ill health effects throughout the body. To stand any chance of success, programs designed to help people […]

April 28, 2015

Published by Life Extension

Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid Improve Memory

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of an analysis of a trial which found that supplementation with folic acid and vitamin B12 improved immediate and delayed memory in older men and women. The study analyzed data from a trial of 900 participants with elevated psychological distress who received 400 micrograms of folic acid plus 100 micrograms vitamin B12, or a placebo for two years. Cognitive function was assessed at the beginning of the study and at 12 and 24 months. While orientation, attention, verbal memory and processing speed remained unchanged, greater improvements from baseline in immediate and delayed recall […]