Previous research has shown that Vitamin B1 levels are markedly lower in type I and type 2 diabetics averaging 75% lower than normal. One in three diabetics develops severe kidney damage caused by the disease. An imminent sign of kidney damage is an increase of albumin in the urine.

Research conducted by Harvard Medical School Associate Professor of Pathology David Sinclair, PhD and colleagues confirms that the compound Resveratrol given to mice at middle-age reduces some of the degenerative conditions of aging and improves health in a manner similar to that of caloric restriction. Dietary restriction is a well-studied research technique which has shown consistent benefits in health and longevity in a variety of experimental models using animals as advanced as chimps. "In this study, we wanted to determine whether or not Resveratrol, which imparts many of the same health benefits as caloric restriction in mice, does so by inducing a physiology similar to dietary restriction," Dr Sinclair commented.

In this study 14 healthy women, none of whom were receiving any medical treatment had their circulation checked after the use of either a Green Tea Extract or inactive placebo over a five week period. Green Tea improved the ability of the arteries to open or relax thus significantly improving blood flow. Also, the consumption of the Green Tea Extract triggered a significant 37.4% reduction in the concentration of oxidized LDL demonstrating a powerful and important protective antioxidant effect for the circulatory system.

Garlic supplements may lower blood pressure just as effectively as some commonly prescribed drugs used to treat hypertension according to a review of 11 modern studies. Research to date before this new evaluation on garlic and blood pressure was "inconclusive" and only used older studies done up until 1994. The new meta-analysis - in which the results of several studies are analyzed collectively -- included more up to date research.

Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) is a compound found in broccoli that has well known ability to shield us from human papilloma viruses; the viruses involved with lung warts and cervical cancer.  I3C may help prevent lung cancer in smokers, according to results of a study with animals. Although expert advice is clearly to avoid tobacco smoke altogether, the results suggest smokers could benefit from upping their intake of cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower that contain the compound I3C. Scientists from the University of Minnesota report that mice exposed to carcinogens found in tobacco smoke and fed varying doses of I3C had significant reductions in the number of lung tumours.