Chromium decreases the risk of heart attack in men

Chromium is an essential trace mineral mostly known for its important protective effects in blood sugar regulation. Chromium also helps raise HDL (good) cholesterol and helps lower LDL-cholesterol. Chromium improves insulin sensitivity and a mild chromium deficiency can lead to insulin resistance increasing the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. More severe chromium deficiency interferes with normal growth, decreases fertility and causes serious metabolic abnormalities.

In a study of almost 1.500 European and Israeli men over a years period it was found that low levels of chromium significantly increased the risk of suffering a heart attack and risk of heart attack decreased as levels of chromium increased and men with the highest levels of chromium had a 41% decreased risk of suffering a first heart attack. The study is published in the July 15th, 2005 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.

Do not just depend on medication to lower your cholesterol, focus on diet and nutrition and include plant sterol containing foods or plant sterol containing supplements as part of your daily healthy lifestyle.

Olive Leafs Polyphenol "Oleuropein" kills bacteria by triggering hydrogen peroxide

One of the ways that Olive Leaf controls levels of bacteria is by triggering a hydrogen peroxide response to them. In this study Oleuropein inhibited the dangerous gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium commonly resistant to antibiotics, by causing a surge in hydrogen peroxide. The study is published in the July 2005 issue of the Journal of Food Protection.