Telomere lengthening is a hot topic in anti-aging medicine. Telomeres are repetitive strands of DNA found at both ends of our chromosomes. Like the little plastic caps at the end of shoelaces, telomeres protect our chromosomes. If they get too short they can no longer protect our chromosomes leading to cell death. According to the Hayflick Limit Theory of aging, each cell can only divide … [Read more...]
Resveratrol and Cancer
April 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Last week we discussed the many ways that resveratrol reduces the risk of heart disease, the number 1 killer in the US. Today we'll look at resveratrol and cancer - the number 2 killer in our country. How Cancer Starts Like it does with heart disease, resveratrol affects cancer on many fronts. Cancer is the growth of abnormal cells. Many events must occur for a normal cell to turn into a … [Read more...]
Resveratrol and Heart Disease
April 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Resveratrol is polyphenol and a very promising compound that appears to have wide-spread health benefits. Resveratrol is being extensively studied in heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease and diabetes. The 2010 Resveratrol Conference examined the scientific evidence (nearly 3,700 studies were analyzed) and its summary can be found here. Before going too much farther it's important to … [Read more...]
Vitamins for Hair Growth (Loss)
March 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The best thing you can do to maintain a head nicely coiffed with hair is to eat well. Secondly, when discussing nutrition and vitamins for hair growth the main and realistic goal is maintaing the hair you currently have. Hair loss has many causes with genetics and hormonal imbalances being the most common causes. But, hair health like everything else, is affected by our nutritional status. Hair is … [Read more...]
Fish: Food for the Brain
March 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The omega-3 fatty acids found primarily in fish (but also some plants) has many health benefits. This article from FoxNews summarizes the results of this study published recently in Neurology. We often hear that what's good for the heart is good for the brain and vice versa. I've never been sure why we would think otherwise. In fact, I think we can reasonably conclude that what is good for … [Read more...]
Maca Madness
February 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment
If this were March we would be talking about March Madness. But, it's February so we'll talk about Maca Madness. Maca is an herb that is being touted for its sexual and general health effects/benefits. Maca or Lepidium meyenii is grown at higher altitudes up to 14,500 feet in the Andes Mountains of Peru and Bolivia and is one of the few plants that grows well in rough climates. It has been used … [Read more...]
Can You Get Too Much Vitamin D?
January 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Can you have too much vitamin D? And, if so, what are the side effects of vitamin D? The detrimental effects of vitamin D deficiency are well known and garnering more and more attention in the medical news. But, like nearly everything else too much of a good thing can be detrimental too, and the same appears true with vitamin D as well. But, it's hard to get too much vitamin D in my … [Read more...]
What To Look For In High Quality Vitamins And Supplements?
January 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Like more and more individuals you recognize that our food supply is increasingly deficient in nutrients - the result of over farming leading to nutrient depleted soils, and the ubiquitous use of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. Though you eat well, or at least think you eat well, you want the added assurance that you are in fact obtaining optimal levels of nutrients through nutritional … [Read more...]
What Foods Are High In Vitamin D?
December 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
So you hear more and more about the health benefits of vitamin D and now you want to know what foods you should eat to improve your vitamin D levels. Well, there are very few foods high in vitamin D naturally, but there are some. The best options for vitamin D foods are fatty fish, fish oils, and eggs from hens fed vitamin D. In addition, milk products and breakfast cereal are typically … [Read more...]
Vitamin K: Protect Your Bones and Prevent Cardiovascular Disease
December 5, 2011 By 1 Comment
Overshadowed by fish oil supplements, vitamin D, and other nutrients, vitamin K doesn’t have to play second fiddle to any nutrient. Vitamin K has many important health benefits. Vitamin K keeps calcium in the bones and prevents calcium from building up in blood vessels (hardening of the arteries). It also reduces the risk of some cancers, improves bone fracture healing, and can limit joint … [Read more...]
