Spirulina decreases heavy metal toxicity (arsenic)

Forty-one patients with chronic arsenic poisoning were randomly treated orally by placebo (17 patients) or Spirulina extract (250 mg) and Zinc (2 mg) (24 patients) twice daily for 16 weeks. Within two-weeks of starting the Spirulina plus Zinc combination therapy Arsenic started excretion in the urine started to increase. Within four-weeks there was a sharp increase in the excretion of Arsenic which lasted for another two-week period. The level of arsenic in scalp hair was reduced by over 47%. Discoloration of the skin caused by arsenic decreased significantly and so did keratosis (leathery, horny outer-layer). The study is published in the journal Clinical Toxicology, 2006;44(2).

Bitter Melon has strong anti-diabetes effects

An international team of researchers report that substances isolated from bitter melon, a plant eaten and used medicinally in much of Asia and the Caribbean, could provide the basis of new drugs for treating diabetes and obesity. Also known as balsam pear, the vegetable has been shown to reduce blood sugar in animal and human studies. Compounds in Bitter Melon known as Cucurbitane Triterpenoids were found to have effects comparable to insulin in promoting more effective glucose metabolism. Testing the substances in mice showed that they promoted glucose tolerance and fat burning even in animals fed high fat diets. The vegetable Bitter Melon may contain 70 different active compounds. The study is published in the March 2008 issue of the journal Chemistry & Biology.