Reducing Cancer Risk

Doctors from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, tested a new theory that vitamin K may protect against non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (n-HL). Researchers measured the diets and supplement use of 603 people newly diagnosed with n-HL, and of 1,007 cancer-free people of similar age and lifestyle. In the first finding of its kind, those who consumed the most vitamin K-more than 108 mcg per day-were 45 percent less likely to develop n-HL compared to those who consumed less than 39 mcg per day.

Researchers in a vitamin study said that residents of Linxian, China, are undernourished and have high rates of esophageal and gastric cancers. For seven years, 29,584 Linxian villagers, aged 40 to 69, took a combination of 50 mcg of selenium, 400 IU of vitamin E, and 15 mg of beta-carotene per day, or several other vitamin combinations. Compared to all other groups two years later, those in the selenium-vitamin E-beta-carotene group were much less likely to have died from gastric or any other cancer, or from any cause. A full 10 years later, the selenium-vitamin E-beta-carotene group was still 11 percent less likely to have died from gastric cancer and 5 percent less likely to have died from any cause.

In a chemotherapy study, 644 cancer patients who had reported nausea after chemotherapy began taking ginger capsules or a placebo three days before their next treatment while continuing to take anti-nausea/anti-vomiting medicine. After the first day on ginger, while the placebo group still had intense nausea, those who took a 0.5 gram or 1 gram ginger capsule reported little or none.

Reference: Journal of the National Cancer Institute; 2009, Vol. 101, No. 7, 507-18, Electronic Prepublication

From the Van’s Health Foods October 2010 newsletter

Healthy Kids

Nutrients lower infection, improve sleep

In a probiotics study, 925 pregnant mothers carrying children prone to allergies took probiotics or a placebo four weeks before delivery. Their newborns got the same probiotics or placebo daily for six months after birth. During the first six months there were no significant differences between the children. Over two years of follow up, compared to placebo, kids who had taken probiotics were 7 percent less likely to have a respiratory infection and 5 percent less likely to have a middle-ear infection, and overall had fewer total infections.

In an infection study, doctors said that children admitted to the hospital, particularly the very young, often catch an unrelated infection. In this study, 742 hospitalized children, aged 1 to 18, took 1 billion colony-forming units of Lactobacillus GG per day during their stay, or a placebo. Overall compared to placebo, the probiotics group was about 66 percent less likely to develop a gastrointestinal tract or respiratory tract infection in the hospital.

In a sleep study, doctors measured sleep quality and melatonin levels in 23 children with hard-to-treat epilepsy and 14 with controlled epilepsy. All the children took melatonin at bedtime. After three months, those with hard-to-treat epilepsy were much less likely to resist going to bed, fell asleep quicker, slept longer, woke up less during the night, had less sleep apnea, night walking, bed wetting, and teeth grinding, and were less sleepy during the day. Doctors also noted that the severity of seizures was significantly less.

Reference: Pediatrics; 2010, Vol. 125, No. 5, 1171-7

From the Van’s Health Foods October 2010 newsletter

Living Longer

Doctors believe certain nutrients help balance the immune inflammatory response and may have a link to longevity

Doctors in a lifespan study asked 77,673 men and women, aged 50 to 76, to record which vitamins and supplements they were taking during a 10-year tracking period.

After five more years of follow up, researchers found that those who had taken glucosamine infrequently or for a short period of time were 8 percent less likely to have died from any cause compared to those who had not taken glucosamine, and those who had taken glucosamine regularly were 17 percent less likely.

For chondroitin, compared to non-users, low users were 12 percent less likely to have died and high users 17 percent less likely.

For omega-3s, those who had taken high levels of fish oils were 17 percent less likely to have died compared to non-users.

Reference: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; 2010, Vol. 91, No. 6, Electronic Pre-publication

This article was also published in our newletter “Natural Insights for Well Being”, October 2010. Stop by Van’s Health Foods at 2148 First Street Livermore, CA or call us at 925-447-2976 to be added to our mailing list.

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Thank you,

The Van’s Health Foods Team

P.S. Please feel free to discuss this topic. This is for our community to use.

Do not ask specific questions intended for store employees. Stop by the store or call us with your specific questions.

Carefree Smiles

Nutrients support healthy teeth and gums

In a green tea study, researchers reviewed dental data from 25,078 men and women, aged 40 to 64. Those who drank one to five cups of green tea per day were 20 percent less likely to lose a tooth compared to those who didn’t drink green tea. Previous studies have shown green tea catechins inhibit oral bacteria.

In an oral health study, 58 people with recurrent canker sores took 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12 per day, or a placebo. After five months, compared to placebo, the vitamin B12 group had fewer, and much shorter canker sore outbreaks, and much less pain. After six months, compared to 32 percent for placebo, 74 percent in the vitamin B12 group had no outbreaks.

Researchers in a lab study found that omega-3 fatty acids reduced the anti-bacterial activity of many oral pathogens by 50 percent. Doctors used eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic, and alpha-linolenic acids.

In another dental study, doctors measured the amount of omega-3s in the diets of 55 people, average age 74. During five years of follow up, those who consumed the most docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were 33 percent less likely to develop peridontal disease compared to those who consumed the least. Doctors said DHA has anti-inflammatory properties which curb bacteria that trigger inflammation which can destroy the bone structure supporting teeth.

In a study of 11,869 men and women, average age 50, those who rarely or never brushed their teeth were 70 percent more likely to have a heart attack or other cardiovascular event compared to those who brushed their teeth twice a day.

Reference: Preventive Medicine; 2010, Vol. 50, No. 4, 173-9

This article was also published in our newletter “Natural Insights for Well Being”, October 2010. Stop by Van’s Health Foods at 2148 First Street Livermore, CA or call us at 925-447-2976 to be added to our mailing list.

You may also subscribe to our blog by RSS or by providing your name and email in the box provided in the right margin.

Thank you,

The Van’s Health Foods Team

P.S. Please feel free to discuss this topic. This is for our community to use.

Do not ask specific questions intended for store employees. Stop by the store or call us with your specific questions.



Heart Supplements - Healthier Hearts, Longer Lives

Women with better nutrient levels had less heart trouble and greater lifespan

A study from the American Heart Association compared 144 woman who had had a heart attack to 288 women of similar age and lifestyle who had not. Doctors measured levels of pyridoxal 5′ phosphate, the active form of vitamin B6, and homocysteine, an amino acid, high levels of which raise chances of cardiovascular disease. Women with higher vitamin B6 levels consumed more B6, had lower body mass index, and lower homocysteine levels compared to those with lower B6 levels. Women with the highest B6 levels were 78 percent less likely to have had a heart attack than those with the least.

Heart Supplements Can Help

In a survival study, researchers measured vitamin D levels in 714 women, aged 70 to 79, and followed up for six years. Women with the highest vitamin D levels, more than 27 nanograms per milliliter of blood, were 60 percent less likely to have died from any cause compared to women with the lowest levels. Doctors believe using vitamin D as a heart supplements may help control inflammation, immunity, blood pressure, and hardening of the arteries.

In an inflammation study, researchers measured the diets and vitamin D levels in 69 healthy women aged 25 to 82, who had either high or low sun exposure. Vitamin D levels in the high sun-exposure group were 52 ng/mL compared to 30 ng/mL for low exposure. In the low-vitamin D group, one sign of inflammation was higher than in the high-vitamin D group, leading doctors to conclude that, “Low vitamin D levels negatively impact inflammation and immune response, even in healthy women”. Adding a vitamin D heart supplements can help with these symptoms.

Reference: Circulation; 2009, Vol. 120, 649-55

This article about heart supplements was also published in our newsletter “Natural Insights for Well Being”, September 2010. Stop by Van’s Health Foods at 2148 First Street Livermore, CA or call us at 925-447-2976 to be added to our mailing list.

You may also subscribe to our blog by RSS or by providing your name and email in the box provided in the right margin.

Thank you,

The Van’s Health Foods Team

P.S. Please feel free to discuss this topic. This is for our community to use.

Do not ask specific questions intended for store employees. Stop by the store or call us with your specific questions.
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