ScienceDaily (July 3, 2008) - More evidence for the beneficial effect of green tea on risk factors for heart disease has emerged in a new study. The study found that the consumption of green tea rapidly improves the function of (endothelial) cells lining the circulatory system; endothelial dysfunction is a key event in the progression of atherosclerosis.
The study, performed by Dr Nikolaos Alexopoulos and colleagues at the 1st Cardiology Department, Athens Medical School in Greece, was a randomised trial involving the diameter measurement (dilatation) of the brachial artery of healthy volunteers on three separate occasions - after taking green tea, caffeine, and hot water (for a placebo effect). The measurements were taken at 30, 90 and 120 minutes after consumption. Dilatation of the brachial artery as a result of increased blood flow (following a brief period of ischaemia of the upper limb) is related to endothelial function and is known to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk.1
Results showed that endothelium-dependent brachial artery dilatation increased significantly after drinking green tea, with a peak increase of 3.9 per cent 30 minutes after consumption. The effect of caffeine consumption (or hot water) was not significant.
While black tea has been associated with improved short and long-term endothelial performance, this is the first time that green tea has been shown to have a short-term beneficial effect on the large arteries. Another study has already shown that green tea reverses endothelial dysfunction in smokers.
Green tea, which originates in China but is now consumed throughout the world, is made with pure leaves, and has undergone little oxidisation during processing. The cardiovascular benefits of all teas - as well as dark chocolate and red wine - are attributed to the flavonoids they contain and their antioxidant activity.2 However, says investigator Dr Charalambos Vlachopoulos, flavonoids in green tea are probably more potent antioxidants than in black tea because there has been no oxidisation.
"These findings have important clinical implications," says Dr Vlachopoulos. "Tea consumption has been associated with reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in several studies. Green tea is consumed less in the Western world than black tea, but it could be more beneficial because of the way it seems to improve endothelial function. In this same context, recent studies have also shown potent anticarcinogenic effects of green tea, attributed to its antioxidant properties."
Notes
1.. The study measured flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery, which is predominantly dependent on the release of nitric oxide from the endothelium and represents a well accepted estimate of endothelial function. Measurement of the brachial arteries was performed by high-resolution ultrasound.
2.. Flavonoids are naturally found in many plants and have been shown to have many different biological effects in humans. Their antioxidant effects have been found in red wine, red grapes and dark chocolate. Oxidative stress, which has been associated with many human diseases, can be reversed by antioxidant intake.
----------------------------------------------------------
Journal reference:
1.. Alexopoulos et al. The acute effect of green tea consumption on endothelial function in healthy individuals. European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation, 2008; 15 (3): 300 DOI: 10.1097/HJR.0b013e3282f4832f
Adapted from materials provided by European Society of Cardiology, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
from: Disease
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080702080624.htm
Friday, July 4, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Life's delights
"I have never been a millionaire. But I have enjoyed a crackling fire, a glorious sunset, a walk with a friend and a hug from a child. There are plenty of life's tiny delights for all of us."
Jack Anthony
Author
Jack Anthony
Author
Broccoli Can Turn Off Prostate Cancer Gene
Just a few more portions of broccoli each week may protect men from prostate cancer, British researchers reported on Wednesday.
Grape Seed Extract Could Fight Alzheimer's
from http://www.newsmax.com/health/grape_seed_Alzheimers/2008/07/02/109251.html
"A red grape seed extract that packs the punch of red wine -- without the alcohol -- could help protect against memory loss due to Alzheimer's disease, research in mice suggests.
Rodents prone to developing Alzheimer's-like brain changes showed better cognitive function at 11 months of age -- when they would have been expected to already have some memory impairment -- if they were given the grape seed polyphenolic extract in their drinking water, Dr. Giulio Maria Pasinetti of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and colleagues found.
Polyphenolic compounds are antioxidants naturally found in wine, tea, chocolate, and some fruits and vegetables. The mice in the study received levels of polyphenols equivalent to what a person would consume with a daily glass or two of red wine.
While the health benefits of moderate red wine consumption are fairly clear, Pasinetti noted in an interview, "moderate consumption of alcohol in the form of red wine might have potential complications for people with maybe metabolic disorders or cardiovascular disorders."
To sidestep the alcohol issue, Pasinetti and his team investigated whether an extract of red grape seeds sold as MegaNatural AZ by Polyphenolics, a Madera, California-based grape products supplier, might prevent the progress of the disease in mice. Polyphenolics helped fund the research.
Mice received an amount equivalent to 1 gram of polyphenolics daily for humans, or plain water. After five months of treatment, the grape seed extract-fed mice had 30 percent to 50 percent less clumping of amyloid-beta protein in their brains.
Amyloid-beta protein clumping is a key step in the formation of the plaques and tangles within the brain seen in Alzheimer's patients, Pasinetti told Reuters Health, so preventing it could conceivably help slow brain degeneration.
Animals treated with the extract also performed significantly better on a standard test of spatial learning memory than rodents who didn't receive it. But the extract did not improve maze performance in control mice, suggesting that it improved cognitive function in the Alzheimer's prone rodents by reducing brain damage due to plaque formation.
Pasinetti and his colleagues are now planning clinical trials to determine if MegaNatural AZ could prevent or even treat Alzheimer's in humans."
SOURCE: The Journal of Neuroscience, June 18, 2008.
"A red grape seed extract that packs the punch of red wine -- without the alcohol -- could help protect against memory loss due to Alzheimer's disease, research in mice suggests.
Rodents prone to developing Alzheimer's-like brain changes showed better cognitive function at 11 months of age -- when they would have been expected to already have some memory impairment -- if they were given the grape seed polyphenolic extract in their drinking water, Dr. Giulio Maria Pasinetti of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and colleagues found.
Polyphenolic compounds are antioxidants naturally found in wine, tea, chocolate, and some fruits and vegetables. The mice in the study received levels of polyphenols equivalent to what a person would consume with a daily glass or two of red wine.
While the health benefits of moderate red wine consumption are fairly clear, Pasinetti noted in an interview, "moderate consumption of alcohol in the form of red wine might have potential complications for people with maybe metabolic disorders or cardiovascular disorders."
To sidestep the alcohol issue, Pasinetti and his team investigated whether an extract of red grape seeds sold as MegaNatural AZ by Polyphenolics, a Madera, California-based grape products supplier, might prevent the progress of the disease in mice. Polyphenolics helped fund the research.
Mice received an amount equivalent to 1 gram of polyphenolics daily for humans, or plain water. After five months of treatment, the grape seed extract-fed mice had 30 percent to 50 percent less clumping of amyloid-beta protein in their brains.
Amyloid-beta protein clumping is a key step in the formation of the plaques and tangles within the brain seen in Alzheimer's patients, Pasinetti told Reuters Health, so preventing it could conceivably help slow brain degeneration.
Animals treated with the extract also performed significantly better on a standard test of spatial learning memory than rodents who didn't receive it. But the extract did not improve maze performance in control mice, suggesting that it improved cognitive function in the Alzheimer's prone rodents by reducing brain damage due to plaque formation.
Pasinetti and his colleagues are now planning clinical trials to determine if MegaNatural AZ could prevent or even treat Alzheimer's in humans."
SOURCE: The Journal of Neuroscience, June 18, 2008.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
When to quit
"People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don't know when to quit. Most people succeed because they are determined to."
George E. Allen
1832-1907, Publisher and Author
George E. Allen
1832-1907, Publisher and Author
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The size of your goals
"If you know what to do to reach your goal, it's not a big enough goal."
Bob Proctor
Author and Speaker
Bob Proctor
Author and Speaker
Millet - A Healthy Alternative to Rice
"There are about 12 kinds of millets sold here in our nearby market in
Osaka.
These two photos are the commonly known varieties, although I do not
know their names.
http://www.pyroenergen.com/articles08/images/millet.jpg
http://www.pyroenergen.com/articles08/images/millet2.jpg
Below two photos are the imported varieties from Southeast Asian
countries.
http://www.pyroenergen.com/articles08/images/millet3.jpg
http://www.pyroenergen.com/articles08/images/millet4.jpg
Although millet is often considered a bird feed, it is generally used
as human food. Millets are packed full of nutrients. It comes in
various shapes and colors, but it's commonly available as pearled and
hulled in nearby stores.
Millet contains various mineral nutrients such as manganese,
tryptophan, magnesium, and phosphorus, with high calories. A cup of
cooked millet provides 26.4% of the daily value for magnesium and 24%
daily value for phosphorus.
1. Like all other grains, rinse millet thoroughly under running water.
2. Add 1 part of millet to 2½ parts boiling water. You can add broth
to taste.
3. When the water is absorbed, turn down the heat, cover and simmer
for about 30 minutes.
4. When it's finished, you'll get soft and light grains like rice.
If you want the millet to be creamier, stir it frequently, and add a
little extra liquid during cooking, and you'll get a dish that
resembles rice porridge or mashed potatoes. You can add any flavor to
it.
For a crispy texture, you can roast the millet grain before boiling.
You can add some vegetables, chicken, and any other beans to have
highly acceptable taste and aroma.
Millet makes a delicious alternative to rice, potatoes, and oats.
You can grind the millet and mix it with baking powder for your
breakfast bread. You can also use the grinded millet together with
some seasoned-flavored fruits to make cake.
Millet is more than any alternative to the common grains because of
its valuable nutrients.
Millet is known to protect your heart by lowering cholesterol
contents in the blood. Millet is also recommended for asthma and
migraine patients. Millet is known as brain rejuvenator in Japan.
Is it true that people who ate millet during the World War II are
more talented? This is a comparison with today's young generation
eating lots of junk foods. Someone told us that a millet diet can
prevent gallstone as well as breast cancer and some cancerous
diseases. Now isn't that good news?
----------------------------------------------------------
About the Author:
Junji Takano is a Japanese health researcher involved in
investigating the cause of various diseases since 1960. In 1968, he
invented Pyro-Energen, the first electromedicine device that
eradicates viral diseases, cancer, and diseases of unknown cause
effectively without side effects.
Free newsletter: http://www.pyroenergen.com/newsletter.htm"
Osaka.
These two photos are the commonly known varieties, although I do not
know their names.
http://www.pyroenergen.com/articles08/images/millet.jpg
http://www.pyroenergen.com/articles08/images/millet2.jpg
Below two photos are the imported varieties from Southeast Asian
countries.
http://www.pyroenergen.com/articles08/images/millet3.jpg
http://www.pyroenergen.com/articles08/images/millet4.jpg
Although millet is often considered a bird feed, it is generally used
as human food. Millets are packed full of nutrients. It comes in
various shapes and colors, but it's commonly available as pearled and
hulled in nearby stores.
Millet contains various mineral nutrients such as manganese,
tryptophan, magnesium, and phosphorus, with high calories. A cup of
cooked millet provides 26.4% of the daily value for magnesium and 24%
daily value for phosphorus.
1. Like all other grains, rinse millet thoroughly under running water.
2. Add 1 part of millet to 2½ parts boiling water. You can add broth
to taste.
3. When the water is absorbed, turn down the heat, cover and simmer
for about 30 minutes.
4. When it's finished, you'll get soft and light grains like rice.
If you want the millet to be creamier, stir it frequently, and add a
little extra liquid during cooking, and you'll get a dish that
resembles rice porridge or mashed potatoes. You can add any flavor to
it.
For a crispy texture, you can roast the millet grain before boiling.
You can add some vegetables, chicken, and any other beans to have
highly acceptable taste and aroma.
Millet makes a delicious alternative to rice, potatoes, and oats.
You can grind the millet and mix it with baking powder for your
breakfast bread. You can also use the grinded millet together with
some seasoned-flavored fruits to make cake.
Millet is more than any alternative to the common grains because of
its valuable nutrients.
Millet is known to protect your heart by lowering cholesterol
contents in the blood. Millet is also recommended for asthma and
migraine patients. Millet is known as brain rejuvenator in Japan.
Is it true that people who ate millet during the World War II are
more talented? This is a comparison with today's young generation
eating lots of junk foods. Someone told us that a millet diet can
prevent gallstone as well as breast cancer and some cancerous
diseases. Now isn't that good news?
----------------------------------------------------------
About the Author:
Junji Takano is a Japanese health researcher involved in
investigating the cause of various diseases since 1960. In 1968, he
invented Pyro-Energen, the first electromedicine device that
eradicates viral diseases, cancer, and diseases of unknown cause
effectively without side effects.
Free newsletter: http://www.pyroenergen.com/newsletter.htm"
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