Researchers at Humboldt University School of Medicine and the Institute for Transfusion Medicine at Charité University Hospital, both in Berlin state that Nigella sativa (black seed) is an important medicinal herb. In many Arabian, Asian and African countries, black seed oil is used as a natural remedy for a wide range of diseases, including various allergies.  Four studies on the clinical efficacy of Nigella sativa in allergic diseases are presented. In these studies, a total of 152 patients with allergic diseases (allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, atopic eczema) were treated with Nigella sativa oil, given in capsules at a dose of 40 to 80 mg/kg/day.

One portion of fatty fish per week may reduce a man’s risk of heart failure, according to new research from the US and Sweden. The benefits are linked to the omega-3 content of the fish, report researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. The highest intake of marine omega-3 fatty acids linked to a reduction in the risk of heart failure of 33%.

Pomegranate juice may slow the progression of prostate cancer recurrence after regular treatment according to Stanford University researchers. The researchers found that men who have undergone treatment for localized prostate cancer (prostate cancer that hasn’t spread) could benefit from drinking a daily glass of pomegranate juice. The two-stage clinical trial followed a total of 48 participants over six years.

Supplements of vitamin D may improve cardiovascular health during weight loss, without impacting on how many pounds are shed, suggests a new study. German researchers report that a daily dose of vitamin D was associated with lower levels of triglycerides and markers of inflammation like tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). “The results indicate that a vitamin D supplement of 83 micrograms/d…is able to significantly improve several cardiovascular disease risk markers in overweight subjects with inadequate vitamin D status participating in a weight-reduction program,” wrote the authors, led by Dr Armin Zittermann from the Clinic for Thorax and Cardiovascular Surgery in Bad Oeynhausen.