Maple Syrup for Alzheimer's disease?
When
you pour maple syrup on pancakes or oatmeal, you probably think you're just
indulging your sweet tooth.
But that sweet indulgence has some pretty potent health benefits to it.
As I've pointed out before, not all "sugars" are created equal. High fructose corn syrup, for instance, is even worse than it's made out to be.
But including some maple syrup in your diet is starting to look like quite a healthy habit. Scientists studying this delectable tree sap have found it may be a panacea for a whole slew of ills. And the latest research has taken that good news a giant step forward.
University of Toronto scientists have recently found that maple syrup extracts can actually halt the "folding" of two types of brain proteins -- beta amyloid and tau peptide -- that result in Alzheimer's disease!
And that's not all. The researchers also believe that even if someone already has the disease, compounds in maple syrup may prevent the further tangling or clumping of these defective proteins.
This finding was so impressive, in fact, that it was even reported at the annual symposium of the American Chemical Society that took place this month in San Diego.
We already knew from previous research that maple syrup (the real McCoy, not some sugar or HFCS look-alike) contains more than 20 disease-fighting compounds, and may beat broccoli and blueberries in warding off lung, prostate and brain cancer. It is also credited with helping to prevent diabetes by actually promoting the release of insulin.
And last April, I told you about a study at Montreal's McGill University that found this north woods nectar also has anti-bacterial properties that can enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics.
Further research is now planned to see whether a maple syrup extract might actually be a cure for degenerative brain disease. But right now, it looks like there are more reasons than ever to top your pancakes and waffles with this delicious and healthy elixir for both your body and brain!
But that sweet indulgence has some pretty potent health benefits to it.
As I've pointed out before, not all "sugars" are created equal. High fructose corn syrup, for instance, is even worse than it's made out to be.
But including some maple syrup in your diet is starting to look like quite a healthy habit. Scientists studying this delectable tree sap have found it may be a panacea for a whole slew of ills. And the latest research has taken that good news a giant step forward.
University of Toronto scientists have recently found that maple syrup extracts can actually halt the "folding" of two types of brain proteins -- beta amyloid and tau peptide -- that result in Alzheimer's disease!
And that's not all. The researchers also believe that even if someone already has the disease, compounds in maple syrup may prevent the further tangling or clumping of these defective proteins.
This finding was so impressive, in fact, that it was even reported at the annual symposium of the American Chemical Society that took place this month in San Diego.
We already knew from previous research that maple syrup (the real McCoy, not some sugar or HFCS look-alike) contains more than 20 disease-fighting compounds, and may beat broccoli and blueberries in warding off lung, prostate and brain cancer. It is also credited with helping to prevent diabetes by actually promoting the release of insulin.
And last April, I told you about a study at Montreal's McGill University that found this north woods nectar also has anti-bacterial properties that can enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics.
Further research is now planned to see whether a maple syrup extract might actually be a cure for degenerative brain disease. But right now, it looks like there are more reasons than ever to top your pancakes and waffles with this delicious and healthy elixir for both your body and brain!
Cataract Prevention
If you or someone you love has suffered from cataracts, you know they're nothing to fool with. It can feel like someone is slowly turning out the lights on your vision. Even simple tasks like reading a newspaper or driving a car can become impossible.
And before long, you could be scheduling a painful surgery to try to save your eyesight.
But a new study out of England proves that there's a way to slash your cataract risk and keep your eyes healthy well into your golden years.
And all it takes is one simple diet change. Could 'C' be the key?
If you're looking to put the brakes on your cataracts, loading up on some oranges, yellow bell peppers, kiwifruit or broccoli may be the answer.
All those foods have something very important in common. They're off the charts in containing high amounts of “natural” vitamin C. And that may just be the answer to keeping your vision sharp in your 60s, 70s, and beyond.
A new study from King's College London has turned up some remarkable facts about cataracts -- and how to slow their development to a crawl.
First, this research, which looked at over 300 pairs of twins for over a decade, put out to pasture the idea that genetics are the most important factor in your cataract risk. Your genes appear to affect it to some degree, but the lion's share of lowering -- or raising -- the risk seems to be all up to us.
And although cataracts are thought to go hand-in-hand with those 60 and older, they can actually start decades earlier.
Cataracts occur when the lens inside our eyes (which mostly consists of water and protein) becomes cloudy due to oxidation. But the fluid that bathes that lens is (or should be) high in vitamin C.
And that makes perfect sense, because as an antioxidant, vitamin C can help prevent that lens from oxidizing and clouding over.
So by increasing your intake of vitamin C, you're also making the vitamin "available" to your eye fluid to keep the lens well protected.
In fact, those in the study who had higher intakes of vitamin C-rich foods were able to slash the risk of their cataracts progressing by an impressive 33 percent!
And unlike the typical cataract sufferer, the twins in the study who ate more foods high in C saw their lenses get "clearer" by the time the decade-long study concluded.
Their eyes were actually getting younger, instead of aging!
Now, the researchers said that they were looking at dietary sources of vitamin C, not supplements. But foods rich in the vitamin aren't exactly hard to find.
They include:
·
Sweet
peppers, in any color! A large yellow pepper, for example, will give you close
to 600 times the recommended daily value of vitamin C
·
Feel
like going to the tropics? Then include some guava in your lunch. A cup of the
fruit will provide over 600 percent of your daily requirement of C.
·
Dark
green leafy veggies are another good way to up your vitamin C. Vegetables like
Swiss chard, spinach and kale will all add to your daily dose.
·
Strawberries
are another good way to get more C in your diet. Even just one large berry will
give you close to 20 percent of the daily requirement for vitamin C.
If there ever was an easy
way to slow, and even prevent a common disease -- one that's the number one
cause of blindness in the world -- this is certainly it.
My Comment:
Most people mistakenly
confuse the vitamin C that you see sold everywhere as “real” vitamin C. But
this version is actually ascorbic acid – a small component of whole vitamin C. That
is why getting your vitamin C from foods is so much better than taking ascorbic
acid supplements which are not very effective. If you want to supplement with extra
vitamin C when fighting off a cold, or for general healing, etc. then be sure to
use a “whole food” product such as Standard Process’s product called Cataplex
C, or Megafood’s Complex C.
Always use "whole food" supplements as they are much more effective than the synthetic versions, which
are much cheaper and made in a lab. Megafood supplements are ALL made from whole food and
of very good quality and they are available on Amazon.com.
Fructose and Liver Disease
A stealth disease could be slowly shutting down your liver right
now -- and if you're like lots of people, you won't find out about it until
it's too late.
I'm talking about non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and millions of Americans are at risk. The problem has become so serious that hospitals are running out of livers for transplants. And even people who thought they were the picture of health are being picked off one by one by NAFLD.
But now scientists are saying there's an easy way to make sure you don't become the next victim of NAFLD. And it all starts with avoiding a dangerous liver poison that many of us are eating by the ton -- sometimes without ever realizing it.
A sweet killer
Patty Vila had no idea her liver -- and her life -- were in such jeopardy. She was just 47 years old when she went to the hospital complaining that she was feeling sick -- and learned that she was in the early stages of NAFLD.
That's a condition where dangerous levels of fat begin to build up in your liver -- and you don't need to be middle-aged or a senior to get it. Kids as young as three are now being diagnosed!
Of course, with the word "fatty" in it, you might think NAFLD is a consequence of being obese. But being overweight isn't the only driving force behind NAFLD, and its deadly progression to an even more serious condition called NASH (more on that in a minute). Numerous studies have found that getting fatty deposits on your liver has everything to do with how much fructose you consume -- even if you're not carrying around extra pounds at all.
Yes, fructose -- as in high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and other deadly sweeteners added to innocent-looking foods and beverages.
While millions are now walking around with no clue that they have NAFLD, once it progresses to NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) they're in for a rude awakening. NASH can cause cirrhosis of the liver with the same deadly consequences as those caused by alcoholism.
It's believed that around a quarter of those who have NAFLD, even children, will progress to NASH. Right now, so many are in need of a liver transplant because of this condition that hospitals have run out of suitable livers to use. There has even been research done about how to "de-fat" available donated livers. That's how widespread this condition is!
And as I said, most people are totally unaware of the danger.
In a recent interview, Dr. Eugene Schiff a liver disease specialist and professor at the University of Miami, said that two-thirds of those who suffer from fatty livers are in the dark, and by the time they find out "they are usually in big trouble."
"NASH can eat away at the liver, and you won't even be aware that you have it," said Dr. Schiff. So with so many in such grave danger, what exactly, is being done about it?
For the most part, it's become a blame game, trying to pin the tail on obesity, diabetes and even genetics.
But numerous researchers have been following the trail right to fructose. And I'm not just talking about soda here. You could have long ago given up that soda habit and still be taking in giant amounts of the sweetener.
Here's how.
Danger #1: In an effort to disguise HFCS, many food manufacturers have started using an even more dangerous variety of the sweetener, called in the industry HFCS-90. But they've dropped the HFCS part and just call it "fructose, " as if it was an all-natural ingredient from fruit. And nothing could be farther from the truth.
Danger #2: Another name to steer clear of is "fruit sugar." Even if derived from fruit, which is highly unlikely (it typically comes from genetically modified corn), it will still give you a dangerous jolt of fructose.
Danger #3: Crystalline fructose and agave are other names to watch out for, being around 99 percent fructose.
For the record, the fructose in fruit -- the real kind, such as apples, peaches and pears -- is naturally "packaged" in a way that makes them healthy to eat as the fiber slows absorption of natural fructose and allows you to digest it in a healthier manner.
But it's a good idea to do everything you can to cut all other types of fructose out of your diet. Because with every bit you consume, you could be putting yourself on the fast track to a serious liver condition -- one you might not know about until it's too late.
I'm talking about non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and millions of Americans are at risk. The problem has become so serious that hospitals are running out of livers for transplants. And even people who thought they were the picture of health are being picked off one by one by NAFLD.
But now scientists are saying there's an easy way to make sure you don't become the next victim of NAFLD. And it all starts with avoiding a dangerous liver poison that many of us are eating by the ton -- sometimes without ever realizing it.
A sweet killer
Patty Vila had no idea her liver -- and her life -- were in such jeopardy. She was just 47 years old when she went to the hospital complaining that she was feeling sick -- and learned that she was in the early stages of NAFLD.
That's a condition where dangerous levels of fat begin to build up in your liver -- and you don't need to be middle-aged or a senior to get it. Kids as young as three are now being diagnosed!
Of course, with the word "fatty" in it, you might think NAFLD is a consequence of being obese. But being overweight isn't the only driving force behind NAFLD, and its deadly progression to an even more serious condition called NASH (more on that in a minute). Numerous studies have found that getting fatty deposits on your liver has everything to do with how much fructose you consume -- even if you're not carrying around extra pounds at all.
Yes, fructose -- as in high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and other deadly sweeteners added to innocent-looking foods and beverages.
While millions are now walking around with no clue that they have NAFLD, once it progresses to NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) they're in for a rude awakening. NASH can cause cirrhosis of the liver with the same deadly consequences as those caused by alcoholism.
It's believed that around a quarter of those who have NAFLD, even children, will progress to NASH. Right now, so many are in need of a liver transplant because of this condition that hospitals have run out of suitable livers to use. There has even been research done about how to "de-fat" available donated livers. That's how widespread this condition is!
And as I said, most people are totally unaware of the danger.
In a recent interview, Dr. Eugene Schiff a liver disease specialist and professor at the University of Miami, said that two-thirds of those who suffer from fatty livers are in the dark, and by the time they find out "they are usually in big trouble."
"NASH can eat away at the liver, and you won't even be aware that you have it," said Dr. Schiff. So with so many in such grave danger, what exactly, is being done about it?
For the most part, it's become a blame game, trying to pin the tail on obesity, diabetes and even genetics.
But numerous researchers have been following the trail right to fructose. And I'm not just talking about soda here. You could have long ago given up that soda habit and still be taking in giant amounts of the sweetener.
Here's how.
Danger #1: In an effort to disguise HFCS, many food manufacturers have started using an even more dangerous variety of the sweetener, called in the industry HFCS-90. But they've dropped the HFCS part and just call it "fructose, " as if it was an all-natural ingredient from fruit. And nothing could be farther from the truth.
Danger #2: Another name to steer clear of is "fruit sugar." Even if derived from fruit, which is highly unlikely (it typically comes from genetically modified corn), it will still give you a dangerous jolt of fructose.
Danger #3: Crystalline fructose and agave are other names to watch out for, being around 99 percent fructose.
For the record, the fructose in fruit -- the real kind, such as apples, peaches and pears -- is naturally "packaged" in a way that makes them healthy to eat as the fiber slows absorption of natural fructose and allows you to digest it in a healthier manner.
But it's a good idea to do everything you can to cut all other types of fructose out of your diet. Because with every bit you consume, you could be putting yourself on the fast track to a serious liver condition -- one you might not know about until it's too late.
Here are the world's two cheapest brain-boosters
After the occasional wild night out, one remedy the next morning is to pour yourself a mug of black coffee and eat some blueberries like they were painkillers.
I don't know how it started; maybe that was all people had in the fridge the first time during those lean, mean days of long ago.
Turns out they were onto something, because studies have since shown that the caffeine in coffee and antioxidants in blueberries really can help get rid of the pounding inside your skull.
And that's not even close to all they can do for your brain -- because combining these two can help stop your gray matter from slipping away as you get older.
New research finds that blueberries can bring life back to an aging brain, fight off the signs of cognitive decline, and protect you from dementia... especially if you already have the early warning signs of the disease.
In the study, 47 seniors with mild cognitive impairment were given either blueberry powder or a placebo. Sixteen weeks later, the ones who got the true blue buried the placebo gang on key tests of memory, concepts, and access to words.
MRI scans revealed why: It was as if the blueberries somehow got the unused gears that had been shut down for years fired up and working overtime again.
That's the blue -- but don't forget the black, because coffee is packed with not only brain-stimulating caffeine, but also powerful antioxidants that can protect your gourd from the worst that aging can throw your way.
One study published just last year found a moderate coffee habit today can slash your risk of dementia and Alzheimer's later in life by 65 percent.
This wasn't just the caffeine (although it can certainly work wonders on the brain). The same study found no benefit at all for tea drinkers, despite the presence of caffeine in their drink of choice.
Go with joe -- because that's the only one that did the trick. Just don't ruin it with sugary flavored syrups. Even blueberry syrups and creamers are loaded with sugar (and they probably contain little actual blueberry).
If you want the benefits, get back to basics. Eat blueberries for an anytime snack, or toss 'em in a smoothie -- and you may want to start your day with an eye-opening mug of your favorite mud.
Until next time, stay healthy and happy
After the occasional wild night out, one remedy the next morning is to pour yourself a mug of black coffee and eat some blueberries like they were painkillers.
I don't know how it started; maybe that was all people had in the fridge the first time during those lean, mean days of long ago.
Turns out they were onto something, because studies have since shown that the caffeine in coffee and antioxidants in blueberries really can help get rid of the pounding inside your skull.
And that's not even close to all they can do for your brain -- because combining these two can help stop your gray matter from slipping away as you get older.
New research finds that blueberries can bring life back to an aging brain, fight off the signs of cognitive decline, and protect you from dementia... especially if you already have the early warning signs of the disease.
In the study, 47 seniors with mild cognitive impairment were given either blueberry powder or a placebo. Sixteen weeks later, the ones who got the true blue buried the placebo gang on key tests of memory, concepts, and access to words.
MRI scans revealed why: It was as if the blueberries somehow got the unused gears that had been shut down for years fired up and working overtime again.
That's the blue -- but don't forget the black, because coffee is packed with not only brain-stimulating caffeine, but also powerful antioxidants that can protect your gourd from the worst that aging can throw your way.
One study published just last year found a moderate coffee habit today can slash your risk of dementia and Alzheimer's later in life by 65 percent.
This wasn't just the caffeine (although it can certainly work wonders on the brain). The same study found no benefit at all for tea drinkers, despite the presence of caffeine in their drink of choice.
Go with joe -- because that's the only one that did the trick. Just don't ruin it with sugary flavored syrups. Even blueberry syrups and creamers are loaded with sugar (and they probably contain little actual blueberry).
If you want the benefits, get back to basics. Eat blueberries for an anytime snack, or toss 'em in a smoothie -- and you may want to start your day with an eye-opening mug of your favorite mud.
Until next time, stay healthy and happy
JD Roma
The information on this blog is provided for educational purposes only.
It is not a substitute for professional medical care, and medical advice and
services are not being offered. If you have, or suspect you have, a health
problem you should consult your physician (preferably a Naturopath).
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