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.
