 Health Front
News that's good for you
November 2007
Reprinted with permission from Taste For Life
Ginko Biloba and Atherosclerosis
Studies have shown that ginkgo has antioxidant activity and can suppress LDL oxidation, reducing the potential for plaque development in the inner lining of arteries. Now a small pilot study of adults with severe cardiovascular disease (CVD) shows that supplementation with ginkgo extract inhibits the process of atherosclerosis in blood samples from these patients and also appears to stimulate antioxidant enzymes in their bodies. These results warrant further study with larger numbers of subjects.
selected sources
- "Ginko Extract INhibits Atherosclerosis Process in Blood of Severe Cardiovascular Disease Patients" by Heather S. Oliff, PhD, HerbClip, 8/31/07
- "Reduction of Atherosclerotic Nanoplaque Formation and Size by Ginko biloba (EGb 761) in Cardiovascular High-Risk Patients" by M. Rodriguez et al., Atherosclerosis, 6/07
Count Your Zzzs
If you’re getting less than five hours of sleep per night, you may be at an increased risk for heart disease. At the annual conference of the British Sleep Society, University of Warwick professor Francesco Cappuccio reported the results of a 17-year analysis of 10,000 government workers. Researchers investigated sleep patterns and then tracked mortality rates.
After results were adjusted for other risk factors such as initial age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, blood pressure, and cholesterol, researchers found that those who cut their sleep from seven hours a night to five or fewer experienced a 1.7-fold increase in mortality in general. And their risk of dying of a heart-related problem more than doubled.
While the reasons are unclear, researchers report that lack of sleep may be linked to hypertension, known to increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke. “Sleep represents the daily process of physiological restitution and recovery, and lack of sleep has far-reaching effects,” says Cappuccio.
Curiously, study authors found that sleeping too much—more than nine hours—may also be linked to a higher mortality rate. Sleeping longer can be linked to other health problems, such as depression or cancer-related fatigue.
selected sources
- “Lack of Sleep Doubles Risk of Death, But So Can Too Much Sleep, ” Science Daily, 9/24/07
- “Lack of Sleep May be Deadly, Research Shows ” by Ben Hirschler, Reuters Health, 9/24/07
Safer Treatment for ADHD?
A natural antioxidant extract from the bark of a pine that grows along France’s southwest coast, Pycnogenol’s beneficial effects on various health concerns have been well-studied. Now new research has linked supplementing with Pycnogenol with reduced levels of adrenaline and the neurostimulant dopamine, which in turn reduce attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children. Fifty-seven children, with an average age of 9.5 years, were included in the research. Urine samples were used to extrapolate information about levels of stress hormones. Peter Rohdewald, PhD, of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Germany’s University of Munster, and an author of the study, notes, “Pycnogenol’s ability to naturally treat symptoms of ADHD is what makes this extract exceptionally pleasing to parents who may be uneasy about medicating their children with stimulant medications.” Stimulants used to treat ADHD (Ritalin, Adderall, Dexedrine, and others) can be addictive and cause side effects including depression and anxiety. Consult your pediatrician for more information.
selected sources
- “Pine Bark Extract Reduces ADHD Symptoms in Children ” www.medicalnewstoday, 6/20/06
- “Pycnogenol Could Soothe ADHD Symptoms ” By Clarisse Douad, www.nutraingredients=usa.com, 9/12/07
No Clones in Organic
You won’t find cloned foods in your supermarket yet, but be prepared. Although estimates as to when these foods will be available vary, California legislators are calling for labeling that informs consumers if food is from a cloned animal or its offspring. Although polls show the majority of Americans oppose cloning and won’t buy food from clones, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no immediate labeling plans.
Taking the lead along with California, the National Organic Standards Board, an expert advisory panel to USDA’s National Organic Program, voted at their spring meeting to exclude cloned animals, their offspring, and all foods from clones from the organic sector.
selected sources
- “ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress to Label Meat and Milk from Cloned Animals, ” Citizens for Health, www.citizens.org
- “Arnie and the Clones” by Clarisse Douaud, www.foodnavigator.com, 9/17/07
Did You Know?
Staying sharp just got sweeter. That’s the buzz from New Zealand, where honey-fed rats appeared to be less anxious and have better memories than sucrose-fed rats. Researchers suggest the findings may be due to the antioxidant properties of honey.
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