Van's Health Foods

Ginger lowered gut inflammation

Ginger has two antioxidant, anti-inflammatory compounds, called gingerols and shogaols, which earlier lab studies had found protected against colon cancer. In this study, 33 participants with normal chances of developing colon cancer, and no family cancer history, took 2,000 mg of ginger root extract per day, or a placebo, for 28 days. Doctors said that the dose was equal to 7/10-ounce of raw ginger, a safe and reasonable dietary amount.

Before and after the study, researchers analyzed colon tissue for signs of inflammation. While there was no change for placebo, the ginger group had 28 percent lower levels of an enzyme the body releases in response to inflammation, including the type of inflammation that occurs in the early stages of colorectal cancer. Doctors are calling for more study to determine how much this inflammatory enzyme needs to decrease to prevent colon cancer.

Reference: Cancer Prevention Research; 2011, Vol. 4, No. 11, 1929-37

From the March 2012 newsletter

Formulated For You

The nutrient needs of men and women can be vastly different - the same can be said for people under forty versus over forty. New Chapter’s formulation team takes exacting care with each nutrient in all of our targeted daily Multis to benefit the specific needs of the individual.

Nature’s Wisdom Delivered to You…as FOOD

All of New Chapter’s Multis are organic, probiotic, and whole. The organic herbs and cultured whole-food vitamins & minerals in each formulation work together to promote optimal health and deliver condition-specific benefits - not just address nutrient deficiencies.* We invite you to explore each of our formulas further - because each has been carefully crafted to deliver Nature’s nutritional wisdom in the infinite complexity of WHOLE FOOD.

Van’s Health Foods, Livermore encourages you to learn more about this fantastic line of vitamin and mineral products. Click here to visit the New Chapter Organics website.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Intense, exhausting exercise produces oxygen free-radicals and inflammation that damages muscles. In this study, 20 athletes ran an ultra-endurance 31-mile mountain climb, with one group taking a placebo, and the other taking 30 mg of coenzyme Q10 two days before, 90 mg of CoQ10 the day before, and 30 mg one hour before the climb. Comparing measurements after the run to before, the placebo group had signs of inflammatory oxidative stress 100 percent higher: the CoQ10 group 37.5 percent higher. Doctors said taking CoQ10 before strenuous exercise decreases the oxidative stress and inflammation that damages muscles.

Reference: European Journal of Nutrition; October, 2011, Electronic Prepublication

From the March 2012 newsletter

Vitamin D reduces chances of cardiovascular disease in men

Researchers analyzed data on 118,864 men and women who began this study without cardiovascular disease and followed up for 19 years. While there was no link between vitamin D and cardiovascular disease in women, men who met the Dietary Reference Intake of 600 IU of vitamin D per day were 16 percent less likely to develop heart disease compared to men who got no more than 100 IU of vitamin D per day. Doctors think vitamin D may influence chemicals that regulate blood pressure, blood vessel flexibility, and may lower inflammation.

Pycnogenol, CoQ10 improve function in heart failure

In heart failure, heart muscles gradually weaken or stiffen, failing to pump enough blood to tissues and organs. In this study, 53 participants with stable heart failure, average age 61, took a daily combination of Pycnogenol plus coenzyme Q10, or a placebo. Three in four participants were also taking three or more prescription heart failure drugs. After 12 weeks, 14 percent of participants in the placebo group improved compared to 28 percent for Pycnogenol/CoQ10. All improvements were greater in the Pycnogenol/CoQ10 group, including lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lower heart rate, and lower rate of breathing. In the heart pumping capacity, the Pycnogenol/CoQ10 improved 22 percent compared to 4 percent for placebo. While there was little change for placebo, walking distance increased 3.3 times, and leg and foot swelling decreased significantly in the Pycnogenol/CoQ10 group.

Reference: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; 2011, Vol. 94, No. 2, 534-42

From the November 2011 newsletter

Doctors in this study gave 60 healthy women, aged 40 to 60, 250 mg or 500 mg of citicoline per day, or a placebo. Citicoline occurs in all living cell and helps maintain healthy nerve-cell membranes and increases nerve-signaling chemicals. After 28 days, compared to placebo, women who took either dose of citicoline had better attention and more correct responses in mental performance tests. Summarizing their findings, researchers said citicoline may slow the normal cognitive decline that comes with aging, and improve attention deficits common in psychiatric disorders.

Reference: 66th Annual Meeting Society of Biological Psychiatry, San Francisco

From the November 2011 newsletter