Vitamin News: Good & Not So Good!

If you’ve been loading up on vitamins to combat a number of  age-related conditions, this week there is both encouraging and discouraging news. Here’s what you need to know.
By Colette Bouchez

Feeling a little down in the dumps? Try increasing your intake of OJ – or any food rich in Vitamin C.  The reason? New studies show this common nutrient could be a mood booster!

In research just published in the journal Nutrition, doctors from McGill Univeristy in Canada found that vitamin C could improve mood , even in acutely ill hospitalized patients.

Lead researcher Dr. John Hoffer recently said, "Patients are rarely given vitamin supplements. Most physicians are simply unaware of the problem. Subclinical deficiencies of vitamin C and D have each been linked to psychological abnormalities, so we examined that aspect in our clinical trial.”

And, in fact, the trial proved that not only are many more patients than expected low on vitamins C and D, but that increasing levels of Vitamin C could make an important difference in mood.

Indeed, using an objective scale of mood determination, researchers found as much as a 34% increase in mood after supplementation of just 500 mg, twice daily with results becoming evident in just days. Vitamin D, while important for other reasons, did not appear to impact mood.

What researchers aren’t certain of, however,  is whether or not the mood boosting effects are the same in people who aren’t deficient in vitamin C – or if the effects are limited to those who are.  But either way it can’t hurt to pump up your vitamin C intake, particularly as we head into cold and flu season. Why does this matter?

First, there is good evidence to show that keeping C levels high could help your immune system ward off some colds and flu viruses.  

But more importantly, studies show that when we are ill  the body pulls vitamin C away from our tissues and redirects it into our immune cells, where it's needed to fight off infections.  While this is a good thing,  depending on our body's supply it could leave other tissues, organs and cells literally starving for this nutrient.

Making matters worse: Since blood levels of this nutrient are high (remember, it's there, it's just all concentrated in your immune cells) there is not likely to be any sign of deficiency - making it a difficult problem to diagnose. 

Bottom line: You could be short on vitamin C and not even know it!

The way to get around all of this: Take a multi vitamin for sure. But even more important is to load up on foods rich in vitamin C such as citris fruits like oranges, grapefruits and lemons, as well as strawberries. Veggies high in vitamin C include tomatoes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash and green peppers.  This will help keep your natural supply of vitamin C high enough that your body can use it to fight off those colds and flus - and still have enough left over for other functions.

Thanks For The Memories: B Vitamins May Not Help!

As good as the news is about Vitamin C, there is less stellar findings to report about B vitamins and their role in cognitive function, particularly protection against memory loss.

In a new study published this week in the journal Neurology, researchers from the University of Western Australia found that B vitamins appear to not  play as  significant a role in protecting your memory as once thought. This is particularly true if you have high blood pressure, a condition that has linked to memory loss.

Indeed, after a two year study of men aged 75 or older – all diagnosed with hypertension –  doctors concluded that supplementation with B  vitamins  played almost no role in reducing the risk of dementia.

“The results of this trial indicate that the use of vitamins B6, B12 and folate for two years does not change the rate of cognitive decline amongst men with hypertension aged 75 years or older,” concluded the researchers.

It’s important to note however, that this  finding is in direct conflict with another study released last week showing B vitamins may indeed help with cognitive impairment such as memory loss by reducing levels of homocysteine – an amino acid thought to play a role in cognitive function.

So who’s right?

Australian study author Dr. Andrew Ford offered this explanation: “The most economical explanation for our findings… is that elevated plasma homocysteine is not a risk factor but merely a marker that reflects underlying common processes responsible for  dementia.... and that homocysteine-lowering treatment with B-vitamins does not affect the long term cognitive function of people at risk.”

In short, if the research released this week  is correct, elevated homocysteine levels are not the cause of, but rather only the body’s response to  inflammation linked to memory loss. So, reducing levels isn’t going to make much of a difference on a long term basis.

And indeed this is what the new study found: While men who took supplements of vitamins B6, B12 and folate experienced a  temporary increase in their ability to recall information and in their attention span, the improvements were just that - temporary with no long lasting effects over time. 

Indeed, on  a long term basis these B vitamins appeared to have little benefit in terms of mortality or in protecting against the development of dementia.

What the study did not show, however, was whether or not these nutrients might help those already diagnosed with dementia. And indeed, there is research showing that once dementia has set in,  B vitamins could help slow the progress of memory loss and may even help improve temporary day to day functions, particulary if a nutrient deficiency exists.   This is particularly important since as we age we lose the ability to pull vitamin B12 from our foods, so even if we are eating a good diet we can still come up short on B12.  In this case, high potency B12 supplements, as well as supplements of B6 and folic acid may indeed help those who have already suffered clinical memory loss.

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Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2010 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements. The owners and creators of this blog may or may not directly or indirectly benefit from products mentioned or advertised on this blog.

Don't Have A GYN Surgery Without This Fruit Juice!

New research shows a common fruit juice could help you avoid one of the most serious post-surgical complications.  Read on to discover how to protect yourself!

By Colette Bouchez

If you’re facing any kind of surgery –even a minor operation – then you probably already know the risk of acquiring a hospital-based infection can be high.  Among the most dangerous is MRSA  (S. aureus) – the "staph"  infection that is often resistant to medication and can have life threatening consequences, particularly following gynecological surgeries such as a hysterectomy.

Now, a new study says you may be able to protect yourself  via the simple addition of a  fruit juice drink to your diet. And that drink is cranberry juice!

In studies conducted at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), researchers reported that a cranberry juice cocktail was able to block a strain of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in a way that  prevented an infection from forming.

"Most of our work with cranberry juice has been with E. coli and urinary tract infections, but we included Staphylococcus aureus in this study because it is a very serious health threat,"  said lead researcher Professor Terri Camesano.

The results, she says, were surprising – and important.

Indeed, in  the past studies have shown that  cranberry juice  may reduce the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) by interfering with the ability of bacteria to cling to the walls of the urinary tract. This in turn prevented the creation of a “bio film” that would otherwise act as a kind of incubator encouraging the bacteria to grow.  With no biofilm, no infection could develop.

While the protective mechanisms of cranberries  was believed to be limited to E.coli – the bacteria most responsible for UTIs -  today’s research shows that various forms of staph infection may also respond to cranberries protective effects.  This , say researchers, is key since staph not only can cause a UTI but a range of infections from minor skin rashes to the potentially deadly toxic shock syndrome.   Between 1999 and 2005 the number of deaths from the antibiotic resistant strain of staph known as MRSA ( S. Aureus) more than doubled.

While MRSA can affect both men and women and develop after any surgery,  there is some evidence that women may be more susceptible, particularly if their surgery involves open an incision in the pelvic region, such as that used during an abdominal  hysterectomy. Indeed, the US Centers for Disease Control reports  that  the rate of post operative infection following abdominal hysterectomy runs a close third, just behind open heart surgery and a colon surgery. 

A recent study conducted by the University of Nottingham in England found that in particular women undergoing gynecological surgeries were at greater risk for post operative infections.

How Cranberry Juice Might Help You

The new study was conducted on urine samples taken from patients who recently consumed cranberry juice.  When the samples were incubated  in a laboratory dish with strains of either E.coli or S. Aureus (staph) bacteria,  cells were unable to form the biofilm necessary to promote proliferation of the bacteria.  The end result: The dangerous infections could not develop.

"What was surprising is that Staphylococcus aureus showed the most significant results in this study,” said Camesano.

"We saw essentially no biofilm in the staph samples, which is very surprising because Staph aureus is usually very good at forming biofilms. That's what makes it such a health problem,” she added.

Indeed, not only can staph infections quickly and easily form the biofilms necessary for bacteria to grow,  once formed they can difficult to break down - so the infections continue to proliferate and thrive.  Currently there are numerous strains of drug-resistant staph infections  threatening to become completely unresponsive to any drug therapy.

While this new study on the protective effects of cranberries  is far from conclusive, when presented recently at the national meeting for the American Chemical Society in Boston, it appeared to attract significant interest from other researchers. So, don't be surprised to see more on this  in the coming months.

In the meantime, if you are facing a surgery anytime soon - but particularly a hysterectomy,  or any type of bladder reconstruction - do  check with your doctor about whether or not adding cranberry juice, whole, fresh cranberries, or a cranberry supplement to your diet prior to and just after surgery might help reduce your risk of infection. While there is no proof at this point, if your diet permits it,  remember that cranberries are generally healthy,  brimming with vitamin C and other antioxidants which can boost your overall health and could make recovering from any surgery faster and easier.

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips!

Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2010 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.  The owners of this blog may or may not  indirectly or directly benefit from product mentions featured in the text or visual portions of this site.

Study: Green Tea Reduces Holiday Stresses!

Two brand new studies find green tea may be just what you need this holiday season!

By Colette Bouchez

Are you getting crazed just thinking about the upcoming holiday season? If so, listen up: Two studies just published report new benefits of green tea - and these can make a big difference in your health - and your attitude - in the upcoming holiday season!

In fact, if you're a smoker – or regularly exposed to second-hand smoke during that round of holiday parties - this one is for you: A study just published in the journal Respiratory Medicine found daily consumption of an extract found in green tea may slow lung damage caused by exposure to the poisons found in cigarette smoke.

More specifically, the study found that a specific compound found in green tea - epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) – was able to enlarge the air space of the lungs of animals exposed to cigarette smoke, as well as increase the number of mucous producing cells – which help to keep lungs healthy. Animals fed other types of Chinese tea did not garner the same protection.

“These results indicate that increased levels of systemic oxidative stress after cigarette smoke exposure play an important role in the induction of lung damage,” wrote the researchers.

Further, they concluded that: “Chinese green tea may have the ability to suppress cigarette smoke-induced oxidative stress that leads to protection of lung injury.”

While the best way to keep lungs healthy is not smoke – and avoid spending time around those who do – if that's just not possible at the moment, you may gain some protection by adding some green tea to your diet.

The study was lead by Judith Mak from the University of Hong Kong.

Drink Tea – Reduce Stress – Be Happy!

What do you get when you add holidays to a year already filled with stressful events? Anxiety and plenty of it ! But now researchers say you just might cut your stress levels significantly and avoid many of the psychological stresses that abound this time of year, by taking some time out to sip green tea.

Indeed, in one large study published in The American Journal of Nutrition researchers suggest that natural chemicals found in green tea appear to carry some potent anti-anxiety effects. Indeed, a group of Japanese researchers looked at over 42,000 men and women including nearly 3,000 who were diagnosed with stress related conditions.

What they found : Those who drank at least 5 cups of green tea a day were far less likely to suffer with psychological stress when compared to those who drank 1 cup or less per day. In some instances the number of those affected by stress was reduced by as much as 20% among the tea drinkers.

Moreover, the results held true even after researchers figured in other influencing factors – such as age, sex, history of disease, BMI, alcohol consumption, smoking and diet.

Although this was the largest study ever conducted on the psychological effects of green tea, it dovetails with previous research suggesting that green tea may counter the effects of both physical fatigue and emotional stress.

Despite the size of the study, researchers say they aren't sure what components of green tea are responsible for the psychological lift – or if it's tea itself or the lifestyle associated with those who take the time out of their day to sip 5 cups of green tea.

But either way, putting a few relaxing moments into your day where you stop, take a breath and have a cup of green tea may have a big health payoffs, particularly in these stressful times. Studies show that chronic stress plays a role in heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and even some cancers.

For more round-the-clock good living advice visit RedDressDiary.com - Your Source for Health & Beauty Over 40!

Colette Bouchez is the co-author of the new book The New Fertility Diet Guide: Delicious Food Secrets To Help You Get Pregnant Faster At Any Age!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

When What You See IS NOT What You Eat!

A new study shows that remaining on a diet and maintaining weight loss may have more to do with our brain waves than the growling in our tummy! Here's what you need to know .

By Colette Bouchez

Have you ever struggled to lose weight ...only to gain it back again, sometimes even adding extra pounds?

If you've been blaming your downfall on a lack of will power , give yourself a break! Some new research suggests it just might be your brain waves sabotaging your skinny-jeans plan!

Indeed, new research, just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that it could be a sort of “glitch” in the way our brain responds to not just the food we eat but the food we see that actually tempts us into going off the track of healthy eating and back to our old evil high-calorie ways!

“Our findings shed some light on the biological factors that may contribute to weight loss maintenance ….and [providing] an intriguing complement to previous behaviorial studies that suggest people who have maintained long term weight- loss monitor their food intake closely and exibit restraint in their food choices”, says lead author Jeanne McCaffrey of Miriam Hospital's Weight Control and Dibetes Center where the research was conducted.

Experts say the new findings suggest that the brains of people who successfully keep weight off may respond differently to outside eating cues – including the sight of food - than the brains of people who either can't maintain their weight loss, or are unable to even stay on a diet at all.

It is those brain responses, says McCaffrey, that appear to play a role in controlling our appetite and our desire to eat. More importantly, they can also become the source of the “impulse” that leads us to over eat - and the trigger that can make it so difficult for many people to maintain their weight loss, even after they achieve their goals.

Indeed, studies show that while those of us brave enough to tackle a weight loss diet frequently lose up to 10 percent of our body weight within 6 months, only two-thirds of us maintain that loss after a year. Morever, in 5 years, most of us return to our original weight – and sometimes more.

How The Study Was Done

The research involved 51 people, divided into three groups. The first group of 16 were obese and unable to successful control their weight; the second group of 17 had maintained a weight loss of 30 pounds or more for a minimum of three years; the final group of 18 were of normal weight and had no problems maintaining that weight.

To conduct the study, members of each group were shown images of various types of food – including low calorie “healthy” meals such as whole grain cereal fruits and vegetables, as well as high calorie foods such as cheeseburgers, desserts, and french fries. Acting as a control, the three groups were also shown images of non-food items such as bricks, plants and flowers.

After exposure to the various images, the researchers used an MRI to measure brain responses of each member of each group.

The result: When viewing the food photos, the brain wave activity in those who either had no weight problem, or who had maintained their weight loss was markedly different than in those unsuccessful dieters who remained obese. This, they researchers suggests that how our brain responds when we we view food may play a role in not only our food choices, but in how hard or easy it is to change our eating habits.

“It is possible that brain responses may lead to preventive or corrective behaviors – particularly greater regulation of eating”, says McCaffrey.

Indeed, experts say that when it comes to controlling our appetite, the mind may be even more influential than that growling tummy!

What the reseaerch didn't tell us : Whether or not these brain waves can be changed and if so – how we can go about changing them. That said, an editorial that accompanied the article suggests they can be changed, suggesting that the new research can lead to the development of more useful behaviorial therapies to help change our mental attitude towards food.

In the meantime, taking just a moment to stop and think before you eat could be all you need to interrupt that decision to take a bite ...or walk away!

You may also be interested in reading:
Sweet Fiber Curbs Appetite Boosts Weight Loss
Eat This and Burn More Fat!

Or visit RedDressDiary.com - THE SOURCE for health & beauty over 40!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.