I have to admit that a fruit known as ‘soursop’ does not sound very appetizing. Plus, its spiky green skin makes it appear slightly dangerous. But an important part of writing this blog is to introduce you to new and interesting foods that help promote health and well-being. I have (and probably will again) written blogs about ‘Ten Top Foods for Reducing Inflammation’ or ‘The Nutritional Benefits of Citrus Fruit’. These are important and useful topics. But I am always on the lookout for unique foods, topics and trends that you won’t find just anywhere. Soursop, also known as guanabana, […]
Lemongrass, a plant native to India and Southeast Asia, looks like stiff grass stalks (it really is a grass!), but it smells and tastes a bit like lemon or lime. The stalks, which can reach five feet in height, also grow in Australia, Africa, and the United States. The oil from lemongrass is used to scent soaps and bath products, as a potent antiseptic, and, when diluted and applied to the skin, to reduce acne. Lemongrass contains citral, which studies have shown induce cancer cells to self-destruct. Lemongrass also contains vitamins A, B, and C, plus calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous. […]
While many individuals understand that nutrition and exercise play an important role in helping to prevent
The FoodTrients team and I attended the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine World Congress (A4M), which was held in Las Vegas in December. It’s three days of speakers, workshops and exhibits presenting clinical education and advances in the most recent research, studies and healthcare practices as they relate to wellness and aging successfully. Many of the sessions were geared toward medical professionals, but we were able to distill information to share with you in ‘civilian’ terms. There was a series of presentations on what hormones—male and female—do for the body in terms of anti-aging. Some of the presentations were a little […]
Research presented on February 11, 2019 at FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation) Week London supports the potential for calorie restriction to protect against several diseases. The studies were conducted under the auspices of the Center for Research on Redox Processes in Biomedicine, which is funded by FAPESP. “We are looking at how changes to the diet affect metabolism and how that ends up changing the odds of having diseases associated with aging,” commented researcher Alicia Kowaltowski, of the University of São Paulo. In one experiment, a group of mice was allowed to consume as much food as they desired, and the number […]
The weather has changed again and like a magic carpet, it seems to always bring illness with it. So, you’ll want to do everything you can to avoid getting sick. Luckily, Nature gave us a multitude of foods that really can boost your immune system and keep you well. Here are 6 of them… Six of The Best Foods Nature Gave Us To Fight Illness A strong and healthy immune system is your #1 defense against viral and bacterial illnesses that are so common when the seasons change. People are more apt to get upper respiratory infections (URI) in the […]
An article appearing on January 16, 2019 in the American Journal of Physiology–Renal Physiology reported that deficient zinc levels may contribute to high blood pressure by promoting sodium re-absorption by the kidneys. Zinc deficiency is common in many chronic diseases and can worsen hypertension. However, it had not been known whether zinc deficiency alone could impact blood pressure. In the current study, the researchers fed 20 mice diets that contained adequate amounts of zinc for two weeks, after which 15 animals were given zinc deficient diets for five to six weeks. Five of these deficient animals were subsequently returned to diets that provided […]
Various versions of the intermittent fasting diet appear to have weight loss benefits. A new study investigating why they work concludes that circadian rhythms are key. Intermittent fasting has become popular, but how does it work? While the modern world appears awash with fad diets, people seem to be giving a fair bit of attention to intermittent fasting. As its name implies, intermittent fasting involves eating nothing for extended periods of time. Some studies have found that this type of diet is beneficial, but exactly why it benefits health is not yet clear. Recently, a group of scientists at the University […]
If you’re over 50, your doctor may have told you that you need to watch your cholesterol levels or reduce them.
A hormone released during exercise may protect the brain against Alzheimer’s disease, research suggests. Irisin is a messenger protein generated by muscle tissue that is carried around the body in the bloodstream. The new evidence indicates that it may be behind the known positive effects on mental performance of taking exercise. US and Brazilian scientists found lower levels of the hormone in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients compared with healthy individuals. The same was true for the precursor protein from which irisin is derived, FNDC5. In tests on genetically engineered mice, the scientists induced learning and memory deficits by cutting […]