Another study shows that Plant Sterol Esters lower LDL-Cholesterol

January 10, 2006

In this study, patients were placed on plant sterol esters or plant stanol esters both for 10 weeks in a double-blinded, randomized cross-over fashion. The control group was placed on placebo for 20 weeks for comparisons sake. It was found that the plant stanol esters reduced LDL-cholesterol by 9% and the plant sterol esters decreased LDL-cholesterol by 12% compared to placebo. The study is published in the December 27th, 2005 issue of the journal Atherosclerosis.

Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.

There is an abundance of research showing that Plant Sterols quickly, safely, and successfully lower LDL-cholesterol.

Turmeric pronounced successful in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

Researchers at the University of Texas, M D Anderson Cancer Center have just published a wonderful review of the herb Turmeric and here is the core of it. The use of Turmeric for inflammatory diseases has been described in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. The active component of Turmeric that is responsible for this activity, known as Curcumin was identified almost two centuries ago.

Modern science shows that Turmeric aids inflammation by modulating causative factors that trigger DNA activity including the troublesome NF-Kappa-B (involved with skin conditions such as psoriasis and other autoimmune conditions), enzymes that promote inflammation and arthritis such as COX-2 and 5-LOX, proteins involved with the cell cycle, and various cytokines such as TNF-alpha that are part of the inflammatory cascade of events. Turmeric also affects various cellular receptor sites and adhesion to these sites by inflammatory messengers.

Because Turmeric modulates all of these targets it is now being used to treat cancer, arthritis, diabetes, Crohn's disease, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, psoriasis and other pathologies. The review is published in the November 2005 Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Aged Garlic may protect the brain

According to research Aged Garlic contains many active compounds which are beneficial to human health in general. Compelling evidence supports the health effects attributed to Aged Garlic and its implications in preventing or reducing cardiovascular ailments, stroke and cancer. The beneficial effects of Garlic and its constituents on neuronal health and brain function are starting to emerge from various research institutions. Aged Garlic may actually have ability to decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and has neuronal protecting activity; neurons are nerve cells. The review was written by researchers at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago and is printed in the current issue of the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging.