Rosehip

A new study has shown that having rosehip extract on a daily basis can help us substantially lower the risks of heard disease, decrease the levels of LDL cholesterol in blood and normalize blood pressure. The findings of a recent study carried out by a group of experts at Lund University in Sweden, were published last week in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggesting that using rosehip extract can play a role of an excellent natural solution for supporting our cardiovascular health, along with assisting us in our weight management efforts.

The experiments in Sweden lasted for 6 seeks, and 31 obese people were involved as a group of participants. Every participant was asked to drink a special herbal preparation with as much as 40 g or rosehip powder. In addition to this, daily diet of the participants also included fresh grape and apple juice. During the experiment, the scientists measured blood pressure, body mass, cholesterol levels, and other key indexes of the participants. A special attention was paid to such important indexes as blood fat levels and glucose tolerance, the most significant factors that can predict type 2 diabetes development.

In the end of the six-week period of time, it turned out that using rosehip extract is linked to a series of amazing improvements. Thus, the levels of bad cholesterol dropped down by 5-6 per cent in all participants of the experiments, and blood pressure decreased for 3.4 per cent (an average). Taking into account some other factors, the scientists came to a conclusion that using rosehip extract every day is linked to 17 per cent decreased risks of heart disease and cardiovascular problems. Prior to enjoying these and other health benefits of rosehips, talk to your health care specialist in order to prevent possible allergic reactions and other side effects.

In particular, a group of Spanish scientists from the University of Granada have recently found out that natural components of olive oil can assist not only in strengthening our cardiovascular system and weight management, but also can improve the function of our pancreas and relieve the symptoms of pancreatitis. The scientists have focused their study on analyzing the actions of such natural compounds as oleic acid, hydroxytyrosol, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, the substances which can be found in olive oil, most types of fish, and other foods quite commonly used for the Mediterranean diet.

It turned out that the mentioned compounds can act as usual antioxidants and fatty acids and have an effect on various processes in our body on cellular levels. Particularly, they can prevent certain types of cell damage, as well as interfere with the processes linked to local inflammation in the body organs like the pancreas. The specialists came to such conclusions after a series of experiments with mice. Significant changes were registered in the mice with induced cell damage after the animals were treated by the mentioned nutritional compounds.

“There is increasing evidence that there are oxidative-inflammatory processes involved in the origin of chronic diseases and that diet plays an important role in such processes,” Maria Belen Lopez Millan, one of the study leaders wrote in the report. “The antioxidant (phenolic compounds) and anti-inflammatory (omega-3 fatty acids) effects of diet components prevent/mitigate the pathological incidence of oxidative-inflammatory processes.” It is believed that the mentioned compounds can be used for creating a new formula or a new treatment to ease the condition of those who suffer from various disorders related to the function of the pancreas. Read more about this interesting study and its findings in the latest issue of the journal Proceedings of the Nutrition Society.

The aim of experiments in Auckland University was to analyze the effects of pine tree extract known as Enzogenol, on brain activities and healing powers of human body. 60 participants with specific brain injuries received as a result of motor vehicle accidents, various sports and physical activities, falls, assaults, stroke and other related occurrences. During the time period of three months, the brain injury sufferers were given the mentioned pine tree natural extract on an everyday basis, after which the changes in their brain activity both physical and mental were thoroughly studied.

It became apparent that treating people with brain injury for three months with pine tree extract had positive effects on memory and mental abilities. In particular, during the tests it became clear that brain injury sufferers had much better memory and improved attention span after pine tree extract treatment. They had less problems with memorizing the names of other people, as well as they were less likely to forget basic directions. These problems are considered quite common for those who suffered from a kind of serious brain injury.

“Other than brain exercises, there are limited treatments available to improve damage,” Dr. Valery Feigin, AUT stroke specialist and one of the study leaders comments on the findings of his colleagues. He is convinced that it is necessary to go on the tests and experiments in order to find more evidence and study the mechanisms of how exactly pine tree extract can improve brain function and boost memory. According to the official statistics, brain injuries play a major role and become a cause of a great number of disabilities and deaths in today’s New Zealand. It costs the country about hundred million New Zealand dollars to cover up all the related expenses and insurance fees.

The scientists carried out a series of experiments with lab mice and tested a component of garlic, diallyl tri-sulfide, and found out that this compound releases hydrogen sulphide, another substance which even in  low concentrations can protect heart tissue against cell damage. Hydrogen sulphide is a volatile and quite unstable gas which is hard to deliver to heart tissues in the framework of any therapy, and the most effective way of administering it to the heart was injecting. The research had shown that it is possible to deliver this gas to the heart by using natural garlic oil orally, and it can be a great natural solution to protect the heart against damage.

Prior to the experiments, American scientists created a proper environment and blocked the coronary arteries of the lab mice, in order to simulate the health condition similar to the one while having a heart attack. After 45 minutes of this blockage, before the normal blood flow was restored, the mice were given diallyl tri-sulfide received from garlic oil. The experts could see that the natural compound decreased the amounts of damaged heart tissues, and it is estimated that it helped to lower the risks of heart damage as much as for 61 per cent.

‘We are now performing studies with orally active drugs that release hydrogen sulphide.  This could avoid the need to inject sulphide-delivery drugs outside of an emergency situation,’ Dr. David Lefer, a specialist at Emory University School of Medicine, comments on the findings of his colleagues. This week, the findings of this research were presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions meeting in Orlando. Now, the scientists are planning to research and study the effects of diallyl tri-sulfidefor reducing the heart enlargement which is one of the side effects of heart attack.

The research, leaded by  Professor Vic Duance and Dr Emma Blain, the experts from Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences and Dr Ahmed Ali of the Compton Group (Somalia), embraced studying the effects of frankincense extract known as one of the oldest and traditional African herbal remedies for arthritis on joint aches and pains of various severity. “The search for new ways of relieving the symptoms of inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis is a long and difficult one,” Dr. Emma Blain underlines. For the experiments, the scientists used Boswellia frereana, one of quite rare African species of frankincense tree that grows in Somalia and many regions of Central Africa.

The Cardiff scientists managed to achieve a great success in their search for obtaining the best and the most effective ways to combat rheumatoid arthritis pains with the help of this ancient natural remedy. According to the comments of Dr. Ali, their research and experiments ended up with determining the most effective way of receiving special chemical extractions. In other words, the study findings include a special and unique formula based on natural ingredients extracted from frankincense and working perfectly well for relieving joint pains related to arthritis and joint inflammations.

“Having done this we are now able to further characterise the chemical entity and compare its success against other anti-inflammatory drugs used for treating the condition,” Dr Ali says. The findings of this very important study sponsored by the Severnside Alliance for Translational Research (SARTRE) in the framework of its famous and ongoing project the MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme, were recently presented to the general public in one of Cardiff University scientific editions. Read more about good old and effective herbal remedies for arthritis.

In addition to the mentioned properties, it was recently found out that a regular consumption of walnuts can play a role in breast cancer prevention. According to the findings of a small study carried out at Marshall University, those women who eat 3-4 walnuts a day have substantially lower chances to develop breast cancer: in most cases, such walnut diet can reduce risks of breast cancer twice. In the short report about this study which was recently published in the science journal Nutrition and Cancer, Dr Elaine Hardman, medical doctor and professor of Marshall’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, explains that these properties of walnuts can be attributed to a high content of phytosterols, Omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants, which can act together and suppress cancer tumor growth.

During the experiments, the scientists introduced walnut oil into the diet of a group of mice which had genetically programmed condition of developing cancerous formation quite fast. At that, another control group of mice with the same genetic modification was following its usual diet. Using walnut oil resulted in a substantial reduction and slowing down of cancerous cells development in the first group. It was also noticed that walnut extract has made modifications in the function of genes responsible for breast cancer formation, and this function is absolutely the same in mice and in humans, that is why the results are considered absolutely applicable to humans as well.

The group of scientists led by Dr Elaine Hardman also attempted to compare the effectiveness of other foods rich in Omega 3 acids for slowing down the development of tumors. In particular, canola oil and corn oil were tested, but they did not show as great effectiveness as walnut oil. Therefore, walnuts can be used by all women as an excellent breast cancer protection. However, to enjoy health benefits of walnuts everyone should remember that this food is quite high in calories, and according to the recommendations of Dr. Elaine Hardman, daily dose of this natural remedy should not exceed 2 ounces.