Digestive Health

Grape Polyphenols Proven to Help Neutralize Effects of a High-Fat Diet

When it comes right down to it, the typical Western diet is not a healthy one. Americans and a growing number of Europeans eat high levels of fat, including saturated fats that are known to be a health hazard. In fact, modern medical research blames much of the prevalence of high cholesterol, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease on our diet. While the Western diet may be the cause of many of our societal health woes, there may be simple and healthy ways to mitigate the damage.

Grape Polyphenols and Your Health

Grape polyphenols are organic molecules that occur naturally in grapes and other fruits. They are present throughout the fruit, but especially high in the skins of the fruit and its leaves. These compounds are rumored to have a variety of positive health effects, from improving cardiovascular risk factors to acting as cancer-protective antioxidants. Researchers decided to look at whether these grape compounds really can improve our health and if so, how they accomplish this.

In the first major study of grape polyphenols, researchers tested the effects of supplementing with grape polyphenols on people who eat a diet that is 33 percent fat, which is similar to the diet currently eaten in the United States. The subjects’ diets were also comprised of three percent grapes, which means they were getting lots of grape polyphenols. After 11 weeks, participants saw a reduction in body fat as well as a variety of positive health benefits. Their metabolic profile was better. Their intestinal microbes were more balanced and contained more health-friendly strains. Gut function was also improved.

A second study looked at the effects of grape polyphenols on an even more unhealthy diet, with 44 percent of calories coming from fat. This diet included a wide range of saturated fat to mimic the more extremely unhealthy diets that have been associated with increased disease risk. When people eating this diet also took in five percent grapes, they did not see any metabolic improvement, but their overall health still improved. Subcutaneous fat deposits were reduced, liver health improved and microbial balance in the intestines was better.

The Power of Grapes

Grapes have always been a healthy snack, but this research suggests that they offer more health benefits than the average fruit. There have been many studies linking grape polyphenols to better health, more balanced gut flora and more. In fact, this tiny plant compound is believed to be the reason French people eat a high-fat diet yet enjoy better health than Americans: They drink a great deal of red wine, which contains grape polyphenols.

The effects of polyphenols in humans are not surprising considering their role in plants. Grapes are rich in this compound because it protects them from the sun, prevents bacterial infection, and repels animal predators. In addition, grape polyphenols give red and black grapes their distinctive pigments. Polyphenols appear to play a similarly positive role in the human body.

Adding More Polyphenols to Your Diet

While grape polyphenols are most studied type, they are not the only polyphenols. People who wish to get more of this disease-preventing nutrient in their diet can eat them in a variety of foods including green tea, cloves and chocolate. While grape polyphenols appear to be especially good for health; the other sources of polyphenols have all been found to fight disease and help support a healthy lifestyle. In addition, people can also take a supplement that contains grape polyphenols to get the health benefits without having to eat the fruit.

New information is constantly coming out about the effects of our diet on our health. Grapes appear to be an especially positive choice, with plenty of polyphenols, resveratrol, and other disease-fighting compounds. These little fruits may not just taste great, but protect us from disease as well.

Seven Signs You Have Low Serotonin

Apr 27 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Serotonin, which is often referred to as the “happiness hormone,” is most often associated with happiness and feelings of well-being. While this inhibitory neurotransmitter definitely has an effect on mood, it also affects our brains and bodies in a variety of other ways. Low serotonin can impact nearly every system in the body, causing symptoms that interfere with just about every aspect of daily life. Here are just a few ways that low serotonin can interfere with your health and well-being.

1. High Anxiety

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are often used to treat anxiety because anxiety is one of the most common symptoms of a serotonin deficiency. While serotonin is not the only hormone implicated in anxiety, people who suffer from anxiety disorders have been shown to have low serotonin in key areas of the brain.

2. Memory Problems

Serotonin is important for cognition and thinking, especially in the area of memory. When people suffer from low serotonin, they may not have trouble storing new memories, a process known as memory consolidation. This leads to difficulty in school, work and everyday tasks. If your memory just isn’t what it used to be, consider boosting serotonin levels as a method of treatment.

3. Carb Cravings

If you find yourself reaching for sweets and starches when you are feeling depleted, low serotonin may be the culprit. Eating complex carbs can indirectly raise your serotonin levels by shifting metabolism to carbohydrate pathways rather than those that use amino acids. This impacts serotonin levels because tryptophan, an essential amino acid, can then be used as a building block for serotonin rather than for energy.

4. Digestive Difficulties

If you associate serotonin with the brain, you only know half the story. Ninety percent of your body’s serotonin is located in the GI tract, where it plays a key role in regulating digestion. When you have low serotonin in your gut, you may suffer from diarrhea, anxiety and a variety of other gastrointestinal symptoms.

5. Insomnia

We fall asleep in response to a rise in melatonin and serotonin levels. Without these two hormones, people may find it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. In addition to being important to the process of falling asleep, serotonin is also a precursor to melatonin, which means it can be converted into this sleep hormone. If you are low on serotonin, you may be low on melatonin as well.

6. Increased Appetite

Have you been feeling hungry even when you have just eaten? Low serotonin levels may be the reason. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter most implicated in hunger. Serotonin inhibits dopamine, so low serotonin may mean an increase in hunger and eating. If you can’t stop eating, try to choose foods that support healthy serotonin production.

7. Chronic Pain

Abnormal serotonin levels have been repeatedly linked to chronic pain disorders such as fibromyalgia and chronic headaches. If you suffer from muscle aches, headaches, or other chronic pain, low serotonin may be the culprit.

Natural Ways to Treat Low Serotonin

There are a few ways to increase your serotonin if you believe it may be low. Many people find relief taking a 5-HTP supplement. In addition, research has found that meditation, exercise and light exposure all may increase serotonin levels. There are also foods that can increase serotonin levels such as milk, chickpeas and a variety of brightly-colored vegetables. Eating well and taking supplements often can help alleviate symptoms of low serotonin.

Low serotonin is so common in the U.S. that it is almost an epidemic. Many people suffer from vague health symptoms that cannot be treated effectively by modern medicine. Finding natural ways to increase serotonin can allow many people to function better and feel better in their daily lives.

Resveratrol and Heart Disease: Helping the Heart Via the Gut

Apr 18 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Resveratrol is present in red wine, berries, grapes and a variety of healthy foods. It has become a popular supplement in the last several years. Believed to have powerful antioxidant properties which promote healthy aging, this plant compound is being linked to a variety of positive health effects in studies. A new study looking at resveratrol and heart disease shows promise for the use of this supplement to protect against atherosclerosis, but through a surprising mechanism.

What Is Resveratrol?

Resveratrol is a compound that many plants make when they are injured or have an infection. It is believed to aid in DNA repair and act as an antioxidant in human cells, while also improving mitochondrial function. While resveratrol is best known for being present in red wine, it also can be found in grapes, berries, peanuts and a variety of plant foods.

Because the effects of this natural plant compound can improve the health of almost every cell in the human body, resveratrol is a very versatile supplement. It has been found to protect against cardiovascular disease, seems to be beneficial for certain types of cancer and may even promote healthy aging. Surprisingly, a new study has found that the positive cardiovascular effects of resveratrol may be due to its effect of the microbiome of the gastrointestinal tract.

The Microbiome and Heart Disease

Atherosclerosis is the root cause of many types of heart disease. When blood vessels are partially blocked by plaques, areas of the heart can lose blood supply. If the loss of blood supply is great enough, it can lead to cell death, also known as a myocardial infarction or heart attack. A large amount of atherosclerosis, or plaque build-up in blood vessels, is the result of inflammation.

Recent studies have found that the condition of our microbiome, or the bacteria that live in our gut, can have an immense effect on atherosclerosis and the inflammation that causes it. At the same time, resveratrol has been shown to have far-reaching effects on the microbiota of our guts. It promotes healthy levels of bacteria that have positive health effects while reducing those that can cause disease. In addition, it helps reduce the populations of bacteria that release the inflammatory factors that can lead to blood vessel damage. New studies suggest that in the future, due to its protective effect on the healthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, resveratrol may be useful in both protecting against and treating cardiovascular disease.

Potential Anti-Aging Benefits

Another possible link between resveratrol and heart disease relates to the way in which it promotes healthy aging. Researchers have long known that controlled food restriction can slow aging and lead to a longer lifespan. This is due to a class of enzymes made by the body in times of food deprivation called sirtuins. Higher levels of sirtuins can reduce the risk of heart disease, arthritis, and other conditions that we associate with aging, which is why controlled fasting can have so many positive health effects. Sirtuins may even slow visible signs of aging such as wrinkles and changes in skin texture. Resveratrol has been shown to increase production of sirtuins. Between its effect on the microbiome and its effect on sirtuin production, this simple health supplement appears to be a powerhouse of cardiovascular disease protection.

The cogs of the pharmaceutical approval process turn slowly, so it may be years or even decades before isolates from resveratrol are used as drugs to treat cardiovascular disease. However, people can benefit from the effects of this nutritional powerhouse by taking a high-quality resveratrol supplement or by choosing foods and drinks that are rich in this phytonutrient. There is no need to wait to enjoy the healthy effects of a healthy diet and supplement regime.

Good Bacteria and Digestive Health Determine Disease Risk

Mar 24 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Inside your intestines live billions of bacteria and other microorganisms. These are not parasites, but rather an important part of your body and your health. New research has found that these microorganisms are integral in disease prevention, emotional health and other areas. However, we live in a world filled with antibiotics and antimicrobials that may be affecting the important functions of our digestive system’s “good” bacteria.

Are All Bacteria Bad?

While we usually associate bacteria with infections and illness, not all bacteria are bad for our health. Our digestive tract is filled with a variety of bacteria that play many roles in maintaining health. For example, there are certain vitamins that we can only absorb after they have been broken down by bacteria. In addition, maintaining ideal levels of beneficial flora in our digestive tract keeps our immune system healthy and protects us from deadly infections.

Researchers are beginning to discover more about the microorganisms that inhabit our digestive tract, which are known collectively as our microbiome. Every person has a slightly different microbiome, although there are several organisms such as Bacteroides that are common to most people. Not only does our microbiome include thousands of species of bacteria, viruses and archaeans, but these organisms are incredibly diverse even within their own species. We are only just beginning to discover the integral role that our microbiome plays in our health.

Good Bacteria and Your Health

New research suggests that the benefits of gut bacteria extend far beyond the digestive tract. The bacteria in our intestines play an important role in regulating both our brains and our immune system. Proteins made by these microscopic organisms have a variety of beneficial effects on our bodies, including releasing proteins that have been found to prevent cancer and other serious diseases. There are new studies almost every week proclaiming a new and previously unknown function of our microbiome.

What Happens When You Lose Your Microbiome?

Most people in the modern world have taken antibiotics. Although antibiotics can save lives, they also compromise our microbiome, killing off good bacteria along with the dangerous bacterial invaders. Some researchers believe that this lack of healthy good bacteria in much of the population may be one cause for the recent increase in metabolic syndrome, obesity, and certain types of cancer. In addition, the presence of good bacteria in our intestines crowds out bad bacteria and makes it hard for them to cause a true infection. Certain pathogenic bacteria, such as c. difficile, have caused deadly infections after people took broad spectrum antibiotics that killed other beneficial organisms in their microbiome that were helping to keep the pathogens at bay.

Maintaining a Healthy Microbiome

Maintaining a healthy range of good bacteria in your gut is essential to good health in a variety of ways. However, our world is so filled with antibacterial products that this can be a challenge. One way to encourage a healthy microbiome is to take a supplement that includes both prebiotics and probiotics. Probiotics are the good bacteria that provide key health benefits, while prebiotics contain the fiber and other compounds that these good bacteria need to live and thrive. Taking a combination of prebiotics and probiotics can encourage your microbiome to flourish with a variety of bacteria that support good health.

Our modern world is very different from the one that we evolved in, creating health challenges that we have never known. While we no longer live in fear of dying from infectious disease, we now face an entirely new set of diseases to fear. Taking a supplement that includes both prebiotics and probiotics is one way to keep your body healthy and strong.

Circadian Clock in the Liver Found to Regulate Hunger and Metabolism

Mar 23 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

When we talk about the circadian rhythm, most people think about the brain. However, every organ has its own internal biological clock. The liver’s innate 24-hour rhythm is especially important to your metabolism and even affects the central circadian clock in your brain. New studies suggest that the liver’s circadian clock may even regulate hunger, digestion and a variety of human behaviors.

Your Liver: A Key Part of Metabolism

The liver is the largest organ in the human body and also one of the most multifunctional ones. It plays a variety of important roles necessary for daily life. The liver is technically considered a gland due to its active secretion of a variety of important hormones that regulate metabolism. In addition, the liver detoxifies the blood, regulates glucose balance, breaks down red blood cells and produces a variety of proteins and vitamins. When the liver can no longer function properly, a person will quickly die unless they can get a transplant.

Many of the activities of the liver occur constantly or in response to environmental cues. However, some of these functions, especially metabolic activities, occur on a distinct cycle determined by a circadian clock in the liver itself. This internal clock appears to be in constant communication with pacemakers in our brains, potentially affecting a wide range of functions and behaviors.

The Role of the Circadian Clock in the Liver

When you travel more than a time zone away, you may suffer from jet lag and disrupted sleep. Many travelers notice that they are hungry at odd times as well. It may surprise you to learn that this is due to the presence of a circadian clock in the liver. This clock regulates, among other things, the times when you are hungry. The liver releases hormones that make us hungry along with important enzymes for digestion just before the times when we normally eat.

The presence of a circadian clock governing hunger and digestion was confirmed in a recent study of rats. Rats express certain genes related to circadian rhythm periodically, and this gene activity correlates with hunger and release of digestive enzymes. When fed only at certain times, the expression of these genes slowly changed to mimic the new feeding schedule. This is similar to the behavior of circadian rhythm genes that govern the sleep-wake cycle; people can gradually change their bedtimes or wake up times. Furthermore, this study found that there is a great deal of communication between the circadian clocks of the brain and those of the liver, presenting a possible mechanism for the Zeitgeber effect of food.

Liver, Brain, and Circadian Rhythm

It is exciting to find confirmation of previous studies concluding that the timing of food intake can affect the body’s circadian rhythm. In addition, these new findings are promising when it comes to finding new treatment possibilities for people who struggle with obesity, diabetes and other diseases that are affected by both liver function and the circadian rhythm. More effective treatment can result when people take their medications at the time of day when they will be most effective, or at times when the cell receptors that these medications target are most active. In addition, while there still needs to be more study in this area, the current body of evidence suggests that eating late at night may be detrimental to people who have sleep disorders.

Discovering the biochemical foundation of the circadian clock in the liver opens new avenues for study. Every organ appears to have its own internal clock, but that of the liver seems especially important in regulating metabolism and overall well-being. Understanding how our bodies work is always a first step to finding new and more effective medical treatments.