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Alzheimer’s disease is a global epidemic, especially among older adults. The irreversible and progressive disease – which causes dementia among older adults – affects over 5.5 million people in the U.S. alone. Not only is Alzheimer’s disease currently incurable; it is also one of the leading causes of death among Americans. Although the mechanisms behind the development and progression of Alzheimer’s are still not fully understood, scientists already have a lot of information to work with. These helpful bits and pieces of the Alzheimer’s puzzle have led researchers to believe that the disease is preventable. In their book The Alzheimer’s Solution: A Breakthrough Program to Prevent and…
Each year, more and more people become glued to their desks, their couches, and their beds due to technology. Various tools and devices have been developed that make many things accessible to people with just a tap of a finger. However, the sedentary lifestyle poses numerous health risks and can lead to obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The good news is, these risks can be reduced. In a new study, researchers from the University of Sydney reported that something as simple as walking may hold the key to reducing the harmful effects of sitting all day. Exercise can “offset” health risks of…
Protein is an important macronutrient that your body needs to function optimally. If you don’t want to get it from meat, there are plant-based foods that are great sources of protein. Why is protein important? The building blocks of your skin, muscles, hormones, and organs are made up of proteins. Consuming natural food sources of protein regularly promotes weight loss and increases muscle mass and strength. The recommended daily intake (RDI) for protein is 56 g for men and 46 g for women. Following a protein-rich diet may help lower blood pressure, fight diabetes, and lower your risk of heart disease. Most vegetables also contain…
Researchers from the University of Sierra Leone and University of Technology Sydney examined the prevalence and beneficial effects of herbal medicine use during breastfeeding. The team published their findings in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The use of medications, including herbal medicine, is always a concern among breastfeeding women. The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study among 378 breastfeeding mothers visiting public healthcare facilities within the western area of Sierra Leone. They used descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis for data analysis. Out of all the participants, 140 of them used herbal medicines during breastfeeding. However, only three of them used…
People who end up in the intensive care unit of a hospital can shorten their expensive and uncomfortable stay thanks to vitamin C. In a recent meta-analysis, Australian and Finnish researchers found that supplementing with two grams of the vitamin each day could speed up the recovery of patients by a considerable margin. They drew data from earlier clinical trials that showed vitamin C supplements brought many health benefits to patients. These benefits appeared to enhance overall health with particular improvements in metabolism. Previously observed benefits of vitamin C include normalized blood pressure, fewer occurrences of atrial fibrillation, reductions in broncho-constriction and pain, and faster…
Isoflavones, also referred to as phytoestrogens or plant estrogens, are natural compounds found in plants and plant-based foods. They have a very similar structure to that of estrogen and they work like the hormone. For this reason, some women take them to relieve menopause symptoms. The estrogen receptors of the body treat plant estrogens as if they were human estrogen. Plant estrogens may have a weaker estrogen-like effect than those naturally produced by the body because they don’t bind as firmly. Nonetheless, taking phytoestrogens is much safer than taking hormone replacement therapy. The levels of hormones, particularly estrogen, of women decline…
Perhaps unfairly, Millennials carry many labels, including, “the most useless generation of all time.” However, recent research may explain why some Millennials seem to struggle to cope with doing the things that earlier generations took in their stride: Growing up, moving out, pursuing a career, getting married, buying a home, etc. A recent survey of adult baby boomers (54 to 72-year-olds), Generation Xers (people aged between 38 and 53), and Millennials (those aged between 20 and 37), conducted by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), found Millennials to be the most anxious generation of all. Faced with escalating unemployment rates, larger…
The benefits of eating fruits and vegetables aren’t limited to gut health – they also enhance a person’s mood. A large-scale study conducted by researchers from the University of Leeds and the University of York suggests that eating more of these foods can improve mental health. The study, which was published in the journal Social Science and Medicine, built on earlier research from Australia and New Zealand that involved smaller population samples. For their study, the researchers monitored the dietary habits of more than 40,000 citizens in the U.K. from 2009 to 2017. They controlled other factors that may affect mental health, such as age, civil status, education, employment status, overall health, income,…
Fed up with blatant, overt censorship, a Polish non-governmental organization (NGO) has filed a landmark lawsuit against social media giant Facebook, alleging that the platform ‘stymies’ speech. News of the lawsuit comes as Natural News founder and editor Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, received notice from Facebook that content from the site has been forever banned from the platform for nothing more than disagreement over its content. As reported by Euractiv, the Polish-based lawsuit is believed to be the first in Europe to push back against “private censorship.” “The move comes after fan pages and groups belonging to the Civil…
Did you know that probiotics or “good” bacteria can do more than boost your digestive health? If you suffer from inflammation, you can ease your condition by consuming certain kinds of fermented foods. According to Ali Miller, a registered dietitian and author of “The Anti-Anxiety Diet,” you can improve your gut health and mood and energy levels by adding fermented superfoods to your diet. More importantly, probiotics can strengthen your immune system and minimize inflammation. Probiotics and your digestive health At least 80 percent of your body’s immune system is found in the digestive tract. This is one reason why good bacteria are crucial…
Over a month ago, I was contacted by a source who warned me that Natural News would be targeted for system-wide de-platforming. On Saturday, Facebook completely deleted the Natural News channel, citing nothing at all. Natural News did not violate any “community standards” or Facebook rules; the tech giant simply wanted us to be silenced and annihilated, so they flipped the switch and deleted Natural News and our nearly 3 million followers. But that’s just the beginning of what’s being launched as a far-reaching censorship campaign against natural health information on the web. According to that same source who warned…
Recently, the relationship between nutrition, gut microbiota, and human health has attracted a lot of interest. Researchers are beginning to understand the role that food plays in controlling gut microbiota, and how unfavorable changes in gut microbiota could lead to weakened immunity and an increased risk of disease. In a paper published in the journal Food Science and Human Wellness, researchers from Northwestern Polytechnical University in China made a comprehensive analysis of previous studies about the interaction between gut microbiota and diet composition, and the effect it has on gastrointestinal tract health. Their review summarized all the recent developments and discoveries concerning the relationship between diseases and…
Researchers from Fujian Normal University, Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital, and The University of Hong Kong looked at the anti-cancer activity of a compound in aged garlic called S-allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC) in a review of studies. They published their findings in the Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines. Daily consumption of food supplements with anti-cancer potential has become a way to prevent and manage cancer. Emerging evidence supports a link between garlic consumption and decreased cancer incidence. Notably, aged garlic extract (AGE) has stronger anti-cancer activities than that of fresh garlic, because it is enriched with AGE-specific organosulfur compounds, such as SAMC. In…
In this study, researchers from Kagoshima University in Japan and Vietnam National University of Agriculture evaluated the antagonistic effects of Ginkgo biloba (GB) and Sophora japonica (SJ) on cerebral vasoconstriction in response to KCl, extracellular Ca2+, histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 9,11-dideoxy-9alpha,11alpha-methanoepoxy prostaglandin (PG) F2alpha(U46619), and bradykinin (BK). The results of their study, which explain the traditional application of these plants in the treatment of diseases associated with cerebral vasospasm, were published in The American Journal of Chinese Medicine. The researchers used endothelial cells taken from isolated porcine basilar arteries for the study. They also used leaf extracts from GB and flower bud extracts from…
You need a good night’s sleep to stay healthy. But if you’re constantly stressed because of work, an interesting study suggests that 10 minutes of mindfulness exercises like meditation can help your brain recharge. The study, which was conducted by esteemed researchers from Oregon State University (OSU), Syracuse University, the University of Tennessee (UTK), was published in the Journal of Business Venturing. What is mindfulness? Mindfulness can be different for each practitioner, but the process often involves traditional meditation or exercises designed to clear your head from distractions. Mindfulness can be as simple as practicing deep breathing techniques, going on long walks, or taking yoga classes. The benefits of mindfulness…
Lentils are nutritious legumes. If you’re looking for a delicious recipe that includes lentils, try making a French lentil and fennel salad that offers many health benefits. The recipe for this fennel, lentil, and salmon salad comes from Rosie Daykin’s cookbook “Let Me Feed You.” You can make this easy-to-follow recipe if you have leftover lentils or salmon, and it can be kept in the fridge for three days. Serve the leftover salad for a nutritious lunch the next day. Daykin, who is also the author of the best-selling “Butter Baked Goods” and “Butter Celebrates!” prioritizes making nutritious home-cooking accessible without compromising…