Cellular Health

Vitamin D and Cancer: Can a Deficiency Increase Your Risk?

A recent study led by a team of Japanese researchers and published in the British Medical Journal adds to mounting evidence that adequate levels of vitamin D may provide protection against cancer. The research was conducted by a team from the National Cancer Center in Tokyo and was the first study to investigate the link between vitamin D and cancer within an Asian population.

Vitamin D and Cancer: Is There a Correlation?

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that our bodies require for bone health and immune function. While some experimental evidence exists suggesting an association between vitamin D and cancer risk, the majority of the research has been carried out on American and European populations. Evidence regarding Asian populations is still limited.

According to the researchers, “given that vitamin D concentrations and metabolism vary substantially by race/ethnicity, whether similar associations would also be observed in non-Caucasian populations remains to be clarified.” What that in mind, researchers aimed to evaluate the association between vitamin D levels and the risks of cancers in an Asian population.

Large Study Examines Association Between Vitamin D and Cancer Risk.

In a recent study, researchers aimed to evaluate the association between vitamin D levels and the risks of cancers using a final cohort of 33,736 participants who were between the ages of 40 and 69. At the beginning of the study, the participants provided detailed information on their lifestyle and medical history. Blood samples were assessed for vitamin D levels, and the participants were split into four groups, ranging from lowest to highest vitamin D levels. The participants were monitored for around 15 years while researchers examined the likelihood of cancer diagnosis. The team adjusted for certain risk factors such as age, body mass index and physical activity as well as cigarette, alcohol and dietary intake. After analyzing the data, researchers discovered that those with the highest levels of vitamin D had a 22 percent lower chance of being diagnosed with cancer.

When looking at individual cancers, there was no statistically significant evidence of lower cancer rates, with the exception of liver cancer. “People with the highest vitamin D levels were 55 percent less likely to be diagnosed with liver cancer than those with the lowest,” according to the study. There was some evidence to suggest that vitamin D levels may affect breast cancer occurrence before menopause, but the researchers state that “although of interest, this hypothesis should be viewed with caution and needs further confirmatory evidence.”

While the results seem to support the hypothesis that higher vitamin D levels may protect against cancer, the researchers noted that “the lower risk associated with higher circulating vitamin D concentration seemed to show a ceiling effect,” which suggests that above a certain level of vitamin D, there are no additional benefits. “Future studies are needed to clarify the dose-response pattern and the optimal concentrations for cancer prevention,” they concluded.

Understanding the Fundamentals of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is one of the micronutrients that are critical to human survival. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that differs from most other vitamins in that our bodies are able to produce most of what we need with regular exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D functions as a pro-hormone: It modulates hormonal balance and immune response regulation in the body. Vitamin D serves several important functions in the body. It’s essential for bone maintenance. Because vitamin D promotes calcium absorption and enables the mineralization of bone, it’s vital for bone growth and regeneration.

Outside of its essential functions in bone, heart, and immune health, vitamin D boasts a few other surprising benefits:

regulates hormones and influences mood
helps modulate blood sugar levels and may protect against diabetes
supports heart health and helps protect against heart disease
improves concentration, learning and memory functions

Vitamin D Deficiency

According to data from 2011, approximately 40 percent of adults in the US are deficient in vitamin D. People with darker skin, those who regularly wear sun protection, people who limit their outdoor activity or those who live in areas prone to heavy air pollution are most at-risk for a vitamin D deficiency. Age, weight, diet and certain disorders also play a contributing role.

A vitamin D deficiency can result in a loss of bone density that contributes to osteoporosis and stress fractures. Because vitamin D aids in cell replication, a deficiency may play an important role in the development of certain autoimmune conditions. A severe vitamin D deficiency can lead to other diseases such as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

The symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency can be hard to distinguish because of their sometimes subtle nature. Some of the more notable symptoms include:

bone pain and muscle weakness
unusual fatigue, achiness and a general sense of malaise
an increase in illnesses or infections
weak bones (osteopenia) more prone to fractures

Sources of Vitamin D

Often referred to as the sunshine vitamin, the body’s main source of vitamin D is sunlight. Our bodies naturally produce it from cholesterol when our skin is exposed to sunlight. Few foods naturally contain significant amounts of vitamin D, but there are a handful of vitamin D-rich food sources available. Some fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and cod liver oil, naturally contain high amounts of vitamin D, while other products, such as cereals, milk, yogurt and juices, are fortified with added vitamin D.

It can be difficult to get a sufficient amount of vitamin D each day through sun exposure and food intake alone, so it’s generally recommended to take a supplement that contains vitamin D. The recommended daily allowance of vitamin D is between 400 to 800 IU/day for adults, however, research suggests that this level may be too low to see the therapeutic or preventative benefits of its usage. Clinical trials have indicated that the lowest effective dose range is 1,000-2,000 IU/day. The safe upper limit in Canada and the United States is 4,000 IU/day.

Spring Cleaning: 4 Strategies to Cleanse Your Body for Optimum Health

Feb 28 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Winter is finally on its way out in most of the Northern Hemisphere. Soon we will be spending more time outdoors enjoying the warm weather and generally trying to be healthier. Spring is a time of fresh new beginnings, which is why millions engage in the tradition of deep cleaning and decluttering. Spring cleaning your body also can have benefits, gently detoxifying your organs and helping you to fully embrace a healthier, more vital new season. Here are four strategies for accomplishing just that.

1. Clean Your Body After Holiday Indulgences

For many people, winter is not a healthy season. Holiday eating, New Year’s drinking and other celebrations can take their toll. In addition, many people feel run down from winter illnesses. This can strain our body’s natural detoxifying mechanisms and lead to a variety of vague complaints, such as difficulty sleeping, digestive issues and fatigue.

Gentle, full body cleanses are the best way to end the winter blahs quickly and effectively. This does not require extreme fad diets, however. Simple, gentle methods can be the best full body cleanses, such as:

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetabt ales, especially ones that are raw and organic.
Partaking in saunas or other treatments that allow you to sweat and open pores.
Eating more fiber, both soluble and insoluble fiber; these encourage better gastrointestinal motility and health.
Enjoying natural detoxifying herbs, such as dandelion, milk thistle and turmeric.

2. Jump Start Your Gut Flora

New research is showing that our gut flora is more important that we could have previously known. The bacteria in our intestines can help — or harm — our immune system, metabolism or even our mental health. Gut flora remove toxins, assist in absorbing nutrients and support good health in a variety of ways. Resetting your gut bacteria can have a profound effect on your whole body health.

A short colon cleanse can rejuvenate the large intestine and remove excess fecal matter that has been causing bloating and weighing you down. However, this is not enough to overhaul your gut flora on its own. It is also important to begin taking both probiotic and prebiotic supplements or one product that contains both to ensure the growth of beneficial bacteria.

Why are these two supplements so crucial to gut health? Most people are familiar with probiotics, which are living bacteria that have been found to have positive effects on health. However, most living things require nutrients in order to get established and flourish in a new environment. Prebiotics are the soluble plant fiber that helps to feed beneficial bacteria, similar to the fertilizer used in gardening. A prebiotic supplement will ensure that the right bacterial populations can thrive and yield the most benefits for your health throughout both this spring and the rest of 2018.

3. Gently Detoxify Your Organs With Spring Cleaning Phytochemicals

The indulgences of winter can be difficult on the liver and kidneys, both of which are essential for both metabolism and detoxification. Several natural strategies have been found to assist in gently boosting your body’s natural detox processes. To give your liver the boost it needs, consider one or all of the following tips:

Drink plenty of water — at least eight glasses a day.
Eat a variety of greens such as spinach and kale. These contain energy-producing chlorophyll as well as phytonutrients that gently cleanse vital organs.
Eat more sour and bitter foods. The compounds that produce these strong flavors also have detoxifying properties.
Rely on healthy, plant fats such as olive oil rather than more processed oils from grains or animals.
Reduce or eliminate toxic substances such as white sugar, nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol from your diet.

4. Improve Your Energy Levels for Warmer Weather

Warmer weather makes most people want to get outside. However, it is easy to be stuck in the winter blahs. You will feel more eager to get outside if you choose detoxifying strategies that also increase energy. First, eat plenty of fruit and vegetables to bump up your vitamin levels. Second, get out into the sunlight. Sun helps your body to naturally produce vitamin D, which is crucial for energy and good mood. Last, get your sleep cycles on track. Thoroughly overhauling your circadian rhythm is one of the best ways to spring clean your life and your health habits for healthier, more rested warm weather months.

A thorough cleaning of your home will make it feel brighter, lighter, and more spacious. A cleansing detox should similarly help you feel more energy and motivation. There is no reason to enter the warm weather months without the optimal health that you deserve.

Resveratrol and Depression: Recent Research Offers Hope for New Treatments

Feb 23 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Resveratrol, a compound most commonly know to be found in grapes and wine, has been hailed in research as a potential future treatment benefiting everything from cellular health to cardiovascular health. Many of these health benefits appear to be linked to the compound’s anti-inflammatory actions. According to new research on resveratrol and depression, this safe and natural supplement may also be an effective way of tackling one of the United States’ most challenging mood disorders.

Treating Depression: A Modern Challenge

Modern people report experiencing depression and anxiety more than generations past. In fact, over 18 percent of American adults are suffering from this mood disorder at any given time. Although all people have times when they are sad, clinical depression is more than mere sadness. In fact, it can be incredibly debilitating. People with this illness suffer from a wide variety of symptoms including fatigue, difficulty eating and sleeping, a loss of pleasure in normal daily activities and even physical pain.

Despite the growing prevalence of depression, there are very few evidence-based treatment options. The current recommendations call for antidepressant medications combined with therapy and lifestyle changes. Although there is a wide availability of these treatments, more than half of people with clinical depression do not respond to medical therapies. For these people, depression is often a long term and even lifelong battle simply to enjoy life. However, new research suggests that resveratrol may be a natural solution to the treatment of certain types of depression.

Resveratrol and Depression Treatment: New Hope

Prior research on resveratrol and mood disorders has been promising. A prior study found that mice who are given supplements of this flavonoid had a smaller inflammatory response to stress. They showed epigenetic changes consistent with higher levels of resilience. These mice also had smaller amounts of the brain synapse changes that are associated with both stress and major depressive disorder. Mice who take resveratrol have also been found to show lower levels of behaviors associated with clinical depression.

New research has shown more light on the connection between stress-related inflammation and depression. For this study, researchers distilled the three polyphenols present in grapes — including resveratrol — that they believed were responsible for preventing the inflammation and changes in brain synapses. Mice who received a supplement containing these polyphenols showed less of an inflammatory response. Surprisingly, the polyphenols each appear to reduce inflammation and neurological changes in different ways. They work synergistically to produce a measurable decrease in symptoms of depression. This could shed light on the mechanisms behind many of the health benefits attributed to resveratrol.

Are You Getting Enough Resveratrol?

Although more research will be needed to determine if the same effect is present in humans, this is promising research. Not only does it propose a new and potentially more effective therapy for depression, but it also offers new insight into the physiological cause of depression. Resveratrol appears to have a variety of positive effects on both physical and emotional health, which leads many to wonder: Are we getting enough resveratrol in our diets?

Many of the foods that contain high levels of resveratrol are not common in the Western diet. These foods include:

certain nuts such as peanuts and pistachios
red grapes and foods and drinks that contain these, such as wine
red and blue berries such as cranberries and blueberries
chocolate and cocoa, especially dark chocolate

Many people in the United States and Europe are not eating enough of these foods to get the health benefits of resveratrol. If you are concerned about getting enough of this disease-fighting compound, there are also resveratrol supplements. These can ensure that you get the health benefits of this compound even when your diet isn’t perfect.

Natural Ways to Improve Your Mood

Although there are few medical options for treating depression, there are several natural remedies that have been found to be effective. In addition to resveratrol, consider trying the following strategies:

Keep a set routine even if you don’t feel like it.
Get plenty of physical exercise, especially in the outdoors.
Make sure you are getting enough sleep and sleeping at roughly the same times every day.
Set small and easily attainable goals.
Consider taking supplements that have been found to have an effect on depression, such as fish oil, folic acid, and SAMe.

Although depression is a difficult battle regardless of your treatment approach, it does not have to be a lifelong struggle. There are a variety of different options, many completely natural, that may be able to help you overcome this illness. Resveratrol is not yet approved as a remedy for depression, but ongoing studies show that it is very promising in treating this difficult-to-treat illness.

Curcumin Brain Benefits Include Boosting Memory and Mood

Feb 14 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

A lot has been written lately about the health benefits of curcumin. Although many people enjoy this spice for its distinctive flavor, it appears to have even more to offer. In fact, it appears to have a variety of positive effects on health. According to several studies on curcumin and the benefits to the brain, it may even help to protect our brains from disease while helping us to feel better on a daily basis.

What Is Curcumin?

Curcumin is a compound found in turmeric that gives turmeric powder its distinctive yellow color and spicy taste. Although it is best known for its place in Indian food, particularly yellow curries, it also is used in Latin food and a variety of spicy cuisines. Although it is a flavor loved by many people, some people dislike both curcumin and spicy foods. While these people may feel they are not missing out on any cuisine, they may in fact be missing out on some very important health benefits, as curcumin appears to be a healthy choice in a wide variety of ways.

Could a Curry Be Good For Your Health?

Many cultures have used turmeric root as a traditional home remedy for a variety of medical conditions, from infections to pain, and new research is suggesting that this spice may indeed have a variety of medical uses. Curcumin in particular has been found to possess powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properites, both of which encourage health by fighting the underlying causes of many diseases.

As early as 2010, researchers noted that curcumin was effective in supporting healthy cell growth in several different cancers, including cancers of the head, neck, prostate and colon. It was also found to sooth minor pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and tendinitis. However, the real benefits of this compound may lie in its effects on the brain.

New Curcumin Brain Benefits Found

Researchers began studying curcumin’s effects on the brain after noting that Alzheimer’s disease is significantly less common in India, where people consume turmeric as part of their traditional daily diet. They found that curcumin appears to have neuroprotective effects, encouraging the repair and regrowth of brain tissues. Later studies on rats found that curcumin’s effects on brain regeneration can be seen not just in Alzheimer’s disease, but in stroke as well. In fact, it promotes the growth of new brain tissue by around 80 percent.

However, even younger people may be able to enjoy benefits from taking a supplement that contains curcumin. According to new research this year, people who take a curcumin supplement score higher on tests of memory. In addition, this spice appears to support healthy mood, performing as well as several prescription antidepressants in clinical trials.

Researchers are currently performing more studies to find out exactly how curcumin can have such a wide range of positive effects. Its proven role as an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory likely contribute, but there may also be special factors unique to this compound. We still do not understand completely how this compound interacts with our cells. Because there are no serious side effects associated with curcumin, a growing number of people are beginning to take supplements that contain this ingredient.

Nutrition as Medicine: Eating Your Way to Good Health

Can you really lower disease risk, improve your memory and feel better simply by eating curry? The recommendations are mixed. Most experts do not feel that the turmeric in your spice cabinet contains enough bioavailable curcumin to make a measurable difference. However, people in India who routinely eat turmeric on a daily basis have around one-tenth the Alzheimer’s risk of Americans. Clearly, eating turmeric can make a difference if you eat enough of it.

Diet and nutrition appear to have a greater impact on our general health than we previously realized. The Western diet in particular appears to fall short
when it comes to promoting good health and preventing disease. However, the wide availability of foods from other countries along with the range of supplements on the market have made it so we all can enjoy the health benefits of a balanced diet even when our lifestyle choices fall a bit short.

Most people in the West do not eat spicy curries every day. We still can enjoy the disease-fighting benefits of turmeric. Although there is no way to guarantee that you will maintain optimal brain health throughout your life span, getting enough curcumin in your daily life just may increase your odds.

Compounds in Blueberries Help Kill Cancer

Jan 11 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Berries are a foodie trend that’s not going away any time soon. Modern agricultural and food storage methods allow us to enjoy these small fruits year-round, so berries have become a regular part of many people’s daily diet. This is especially true of blueberries, which could have some unexpected health benefits. According to new research, blueberries not only taste great but several of the compounds found in blueberries help kill cancer cells.

Berries: Tiny Fruits With Giant Health Benefits

Berries are not just sugar and crunch. They also provide some incredible benefits for human health. Berries are lower in calories than many other sweet snacks but also are packed full of vitamins and nutrients. Many of these nutrients double as antioxidants, compounds that help our cells repair routine damage. In addition, berries are high in fiber, which is good for the GI tract and also help us to feel full for a longer period of time after eating them.

All berries are healthy, but blueberries appear to have very special and specific advantages. For example, blueberries contain polyphenols, compounds that help to relax blood vessels and contribute to lifelong cardiovascular health. In addition, some of the compounds in blueberries appear to strengthen bones while protecting against diseases such as osteoporosis. However, several other health benefits appear to be due to other compounds called flavonoids and resveratrol: New research suggests that these compounds may contribute to why blueberries help kill cancer and protect against other serious life-threatening diseases.

How Can Blueberries Help Kill Cancer?

Radiation is a common treatment for certain types of cancer, often in conjunction with chemotherapy or surgery. However, it is not without side effects; radiation can cause damage to healthy cells in addition to cancerous ones. A new study looked at the benefits of blueberries by treating human cervical cancer cells with a combination of radiation and blueberry extract, while treating others from the same cell line with radiation alone. The cells that were treated with just radiation saw a 20 percent decrease in cancer cells. Those treated with radiation and blueberry extract had a 70 percent reduction in cancer cells, an increase of 50 percent. Researchers report that the blueberry extract made cancer cells more sensitive to radiation.

These effects of blueberries appear to be partially due to a compound called resveratrol. Besides providing a number of other health benefits, resveratrol, also present in red wine, has been found in previous studies to make cancer more sensitive to radiation, markedly increasing the number of prostate cancer cells that die in radiation treatments. This is significant because cancer patients will not just get a more effective treatment, but be able to get the same effects with less exposure to radiation.

Last, there are compounds called flavonoids in blueberries that have many health benefits. These molecules help to give blueberries their distinctive color and taste but also have been found to prevent the development of cancer when included as part of a healthy diet. Analogs of flavonoids in other kinds of fruit are already used as chemotherapy agents, so it makes sense that these molecules could have a measurable effect on cancer. Flavonoids appear to do this by encouraging more effective DNA repair, in a manner similar to antioxidants.

Healthy Diet, Healthy Life

This research is promising because blueberries are a readily available food with other proven health benefits. They are found over much of the world, allowing many patients to enjoy their health benefits. In addition, blueberries are delicious, which means people will be more likely to make them a regular part of their diet. There are several other easy ways to use food as a means of preventing and treating disease. If you want to get all of the benefits of a healthy diet, consider making the following changes:

Eat a wide variety of foods, including ones from every color of the rainbow. This will ensure that you get a wide variety of healthy compounds and flavonoids.
Focus on moderation. Over-eating can lead to becoming overweight, which is a health risk in itself.
Include plants in your diet. Scientists say 2.5 cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit per day should be the goal.
Limit refined foods such as trans fats, white flour, and processed sugar. These offer mainly empty calories without the benefits of flavonoids and other healthy compounds.
Look for ways to get more fish and plant protein.
Eat more fiber. Whole grains, vegetables, and yes, blueberries have the fiber you need to achieve better gastrointestinal health while lowering your chances of developing colon cancer.

Sometimes it seems like the best tasting foods are all bad for us, while healthy food lacks the flavors that we crave. However, there are several foods that are both delicious and healthy. Blueberries are a sweet treat that we all can enjoy with no guilt, for both the taste and the many health benefits. While no food can guarantee that you live a long and healthy life, blueberries are one of many foods that will improve your chances of a healthy, happy old age.

Phytoestrogens for Men Support Healthy Hormones, Prostate, Heart and More

Dec 12 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Phytoestrogens for men? According to numerous scientists and medical professionals, phytoestrogens—plant compounds that mimic the female hormone estrogen in the body—may play an important role in men’s health. This article describes phytoestrogens, the benefits men might reap from incorporating them into their health regiment and attempts to dispel misconceptions about certain side effects men might experience resulting from exposure to phytoestrogens.

What Are Phytoestrogens?

Phytoestrogens are a subgrouping of what is medically referred to as phytohormones. Typically, these substances are produced by and found in plants, most notably in many of the fruits and vegetables people consume as part of their diets. Examples include produce like garlic, parsley, soybeans and soy products, carrots, kale, broccoli, potatoes, dates, cherries, apples, pomegranates, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, grain products and coffee beans. Among the two most studied and well-known types of phytoestrogens are isoflavones and lignans.

Though phytoestrogens are not thought to be as potent as the hormone estrogen, which is among the chief female reproductive hormones, those in the medical community have expressed confidence in their ability to precipitate many positive dietary and overall bodily health impacts. What is of even greater significance is that phytoestrogens are also believed to offer men many important health benefits.

Phytoestrogens for Men May Reduce the Risk of Prostate Cancer

Isoflavones, the phytoestrogens commonly found in soy and soy byproducts, may help reduce a man’s chances of being stricken with prostate and other hormone-related malignancies. No place has this fact been more evident than in Japan where the incidence of the disease is five times less likely than in the United States and other Western nations. Testosterone, the main male reproductive hormone, is known to serve as fuel for prostatic cancer cells and cause this specific type of cancer to grow and spread. Several therapeutic regiments are geared towards limiting or, in more severe cases, eliminating a man’s ability to produce testosterone. Scientific research has also shown soy might be effective in prohibiting the growth of prostate cells in men suffering from prostate cancer. Researchers think the correlation might be related to the diet of the average Japanese man, which is much higher in soy than of men in the United States and other western nations.

Exploring Additional Health Benefits of Phytoestrogens for Men

It is suggested that isoflavones may play a part in helping men maintain healthy levels of LDL, aka “bad” cholesterol in their bloodstreams. This type of cholesterol is responsible for precipitating cardiovascular problems such as coronary artery disease, strokes and peripheral artery afflictions. Studies conducted on Asian men, all of whom consume diets rich in soy products, revealed they experienced less incidence of heart disease. Prominent American health organizations, such as the Food and Drug Administration and the American Heart Association, have stamped soy as a heart-healthy product and recommends men include more edible items containing the nutrient in their diets.

Scientists and nutritionists have discovered many men, especially those of advanced ages, consume diets lacking protein. For the most part, foods rich in soy are thought to be healthy but also contain enough protein to help those deficient in the critical dietary component meet—at a minimum—the nutrient’s recommended daily allowances.

Lignans: The Other Phytoestrogen for Men’s Health

Like isoflavones, the phytoestrogens known as lignans are thought to provide added protection in the fight against various forms of cancer, as well as aid in the reduction of cholesterol levels. However, scientists believe these chemicals possess several health-boosting attributes, including:

Preventing Hair Loss

Lignans are said to block the body’s ability to synthesize testosterone into the hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT collects in the hair follicles and can contribute to male hair loss or possibly even complete baldness.

Strengthening the Immune System

Lignans contain numerous antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that prevent or lessen inflammation in the body’s cells and tissues. The reduction and/or elimination of inflammation boosts the body’s immune system.

Helping to Maintain Healthy Hormone Balance

The similarity of phytoestrogenic lignans to sex hormones enables them to dock at certain hormone receptor sites, enabling them to contribute to promoting a healthy balance of hormones, especially during andropause.

Contrary to the belief of some, phytoestrogens in men do not cause feminization or bring about certain physiological changes. In the recent past, rumors have circulated that consuming a diet plentiful in phytoestrogens, particularly those containing soy, can lead to men developing excess breast tissue (a medical condition known as gynecomastia). That said, there are many in the scientific community who believe this theory is more of an “old wives tale” with little factual evidence. Studies conducted have shown that, if eaten in moderation and as part of an otherwise balanced diet, soy-based phytoestrogens like isoflavones will not result in a man developing breasts or experience any other form of “feminization.”

While research is still ongoing, the studies that have been completed suggest phytoestrogens may play a role in men improving their overall health and quality of life.