A marvelous cup of tea for anxiety, inflammation and cancer

Chamomile tea is more than granny’s remedy for stomachache and infections – the flavonols that are present in this plant are effective in relieving anxiety and fighting cancer.

Apigenin is a natural compound present in chamomile, grapefruit and orange, and researchers are increasingly putting their eyes on this amazing phytochemical due to its anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities.

To begin with, a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study conducted in 2009 showed chamomile extract is an effective anti-depressant for patients who suffer from both anxiety and depression. With this, the historical use of chamomile to treat depression in southern Italy, Morocco and Brazil is now proven correct. Apigenin being the main constituent in this herb modulates the effect of several hormones and neurotransmitters such as noradrenalin, dopamine and serotonin playing an important role in controlling anxiety and depression.

Interestingly, inhaling chamomile oil vapor can reduce stress through decreasing ACTH levels and subsequently cortisol production – the stress hormone released by the suprarrenal glands. This is how aromatherapy represents a promising alternative for those interested in creating a relaxing atmosphere at home, and chamomile oil can be used in combination with linalool-rich lavender essential oil, which is also effective in reducing tension, stress, and post-menopausal depression. Apigenin also strengthens brain connections and promotes neuroplasticity.

Apigenin - a great chamomile phytochemical

Regarding its anti-inflammatory activities, apigenin may represent a safe alternative to the chronic use of anti-inflammatory therapies. A study conducted on mice showed that apigenin reduces lung inflammation by reducing infiltration of white blood cells and regulation of the NF-kB gene. To fully benefit from the anti-inflammatory action of apigenin on the whole body, it can be taken along with resveratrol – the main phytochemical in red wine and grapes, and which I recommend taking in the form of high quality grape extracts. Interestingly, resveratrol potentiates the effect of apigenin by blocking its destruction in the liver.

Apigenin exhibits modest anti-tumor activity and it has been shown to potentiate cancer drug navitoclax, which is prescribed for lymph, breast, colon and prostate cancer. Several animal studies suggest apigenin protects against several carcinogenic mutations induced by toxins and bacteria. Moreover, apigenin decreases tumor blood vessel formation, which is essential in the fight against cancer and one of the most important mechanisms of action of modern cancer drugs.

Dietary apigenin has no adverse reactions, so feel free to incorporate chamomile tea with lavender or grape extract, and you will benefit from the amazing compounds these plants have. There is no better thing than promoting overall health and preventing disease through the consumption of natural foods and beverages. With the Western diet saturated with processed foods, it is curious how the term ‘natural food’ has emerged. Let’s go back to basics and start consuming sugar-free tea and natural extracts that are in no way a substitute for medication, but a powerful ally to our health.

                                            

This culinary herb protects you against cancer and chronic diseases

From ancient Greek scholars using it to improve recall while taking exams, to Ophelia pleading Hamlet “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance, pray your love, remember”, rosemary has long been considered a memory stimulant. This herb is not only part of traditional medicine books and exquisite recipes, it has also been widely studied by scientist in the last 20 years, and it seems that the active compounds found in this plant are amazing for skin disorders, inflammatory diseases and preventing Alzheimer’s disease.

Rosmarinic acid is one of the major components found in rosemary and it is also present in other plants such as spearmint and lemon balm. The following pharmacological effects of this phytochemical have been confirmed in in vitro, animal and clinical studies.

Powerful antioxidant

In vitro studies performed on cultured keratinocytes – the predominant cell type of the outer layer of the skin – found that rosmarinic acid effectively protects cells from oxidative stress induced by ultraviolet radiation. Rosemary extracts being potent antioxidants are used to improve the shelf life of perishable foods, and they destroy heterocyclic amines, which are carcinogenic compounds than can form when meat is cooked. 

Antitumoral activity

Several animal studies have proven the efficacy of rosmarinic acid in preventing cancer. Eight week administration of rosmarinic acid was shown to prevent colon cancer in mice. Another study found that rosmarinic acid completely prevented skin cancer in mice treated with a carcinogenic substance. The effects of rosemary extract are so promising that they are being evaluated as a complementary agent in anticancer therapy.

Antiinflammatory effect

Clinical studies have shown rosmarinic acid is effective in controlling atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinoconjuntivitis.

Relief of osteoarthritis pain

A clinical study conducted by the University of Guelp, Canada evaluated the effects of a high rosmarinic acid spearmint tea on relieving osteoarthritis pain, stiffness and joint disability. Participants who drank two cups a day for 16 weeks had significant reduction of these symptoms leading researchers to recommend it as a potential complementary therapy to reduce pain in ostheoarthritis.

How to benefit from rosmarinic acid

Make sure to frequently include rosemary to your cooking. There are plenty of recipes for sauces, soups and meat using this tasty herb. If you don't like the flavor of rosemary, you can put a little bit of rosemary extract on the surface. You can also drink two cups of rosemary/spearmint tea a day, which will give you 20 mg of rosmarinic acid - enough to benefit from its antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. 

Keep your cholesterol levels safe with plant sterols

High cholesterol is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Cholesterol plaques build up inside the arteries over the years, and can eventually rupture and form blood clots leading to stroke or heart attack. Therefore, it is important to keep your cholesterol levels safe and plant sterols are your best allies in achieving this. 

It is not true that you have to give up fat in order to prevent cardiovascular diseases. A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition argues that no direct link between saturated fat intake and ischemic heart disease exists, and found that a high intake of energy from saturated fat was associated with a 17% lower risk of ischemic heart disease, while the substitution of saturated fat with carbohydrates and animal protein led to higher risk. Moreover, due to the fact that fat is usually replaced by sugar and refined carbohydrates in low-fat products leading to higher levels of triglycerides, the Harvard School of Public Health recommends not to adopt a low-fat diet. 

Structure of beta-sitosterol, a plant sterol

Structure of cholesterol

Plant sterols (aka phytosterols) are naturally present in many grains, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds. As they have a similar structure to that of cholesterol, they reduce cholesterol absorption in the gut. A diet rich in phytosterols (for instance a vegeterian diet) can provide up to 600 mg a day; however, it has been shown that a daily intake of 1.6 - 2.5 grams/day is able to reduce 30% of cholesterol absorption in the gut and blood LDL cholesterol by 8 - 10.5%. 

To benefit from the cholesterol lowering effect of these compounds follow these recommendations:

- Make nuts your preferred snack 

- Include plenty of avocado in your diet - avocado oil is an excellent source of phytosterols

- Put some amaranth or wheat germ on top of fruit

- Make sure to have oatmeal three times a week. It has plenty of phytosterols and beta-glucan that together lower cholesterol

- Eat foods fortified with plant sterols and stanols such as oat bars, milk, chocolate bars, orange juice etc. Always make sure to read the label of the products you buy; they must always include the added stuff they have including phytosterols. I don't recommend having margarine though. 

- Plant sterols do not replace medication. If you are on a statin regime, make sure to stick on it and include phytosterols - they will totally help statins in lowering cholesterol!

Interestingly, phytosterols are being investigated for their potential to prevent and treat cancer. They seem to be able to modulate cancer through the inhibition of several processes such as cancer cell growth, tumor formation of new vessels, invasion and metastasis. 

What better thing to stay healthy?

COCONUT OIL IS MORE THAN A SKIN MOISTURIZER - IT AMAZINGLY COMBATS ALZHEIMER'S!

Coconut oil has increasingly gained the attention of both scientists and consumers due to its many health benefits. From oil pulling and skin moisturizer, to weight loss and protection against infections, it seems that coconut oil has the right type and amount of fat, minerals and other nutrients that are good for the body. But more interestingly, I would like to explain how valuable coconut oil is in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease shows some similarities to diabetes type 2

Neurons normally use sugar as fuel. Under circumstances where carbohydrate intake is minimum such as fasting or the ketogenic diet - the liver transforms fat into ketone bodies, which in turn are used by brain cells as a source of energy. Interestingly, the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease shows insulin resistance, which leads to cognitive impairment. This means that brain cells are not able to use glucose and starve to death! In fact, Alzheimer's disease might be a type of cerebral diabetes mellitus type 3 as it is estimated that 40% of dementia cases are related to neurons' inability to utilize glucose. 

The promise of coconut oil

Coconut oil is rich in saturated fat mostly containing lauric acid - a medium chain fatty acid that is easily converted to ketone bodies by the liver. Scientists from Spain have demonstrated that a diet rich in coconut oil provides an alternative source of energy to brain cells, and by changing the brain metabolism, patients show cognitive improvement such as reduced dementia by 45% regardless of the stage of the disease. 

To benefit from the medium chain fatty acids present in coconut oil, it is recommended to take 40 ml of coconut oil a day in the form of delicious green non-sugar smoothies, cream soups and many other recipes you can come up with on the Internet. You don't have to worry about having such amount of saturated fat daily; the medium chain fatty acids are easily metabolized in your body and have been safely used in the treatment of obesity, high cholesterol, etc.

If you are looking for more scientific information read:

The role of dietary coconut for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease: potential mechanisms of action. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25997382

COCONUT OIL: NON-ALTERNATIVE DRUG TREATMENT AGAINST ALZHEIMER´S DISEASE. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26667739

Active compounds in cherry juice prevent and reduce memory loss

Lovers of natural remedies know perfectly well that, generally speaking, colorful fruits and vegetables are rich in healthy bioactive compounds. Such is the case of cherry – not that sweet thing often used in pastry, but the natural version of the fruit – which protects the brain from memory loss and dementia.

Scientists from the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health of the University of Wollongong, Australia recently found that an anthocyanin-rich cherry juice improves several cognitive functions such as verbal fluency and short- and long-term memory in older adults with mild to moderate dementia. This is very good news for people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Molecular structure of anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are a group of red-blue pigments found in many edible plants, such as berries, eggplant, cherry, olives, red onion, sweet potato, raddish, among others. These pigments neutralize free radicals that damage neurons and prevent the formation of amyloid plaques, which are responsible for cognitive impairment. Consumption of natural and fresh cherry juice for 12 weeks leads to cognitive improvement.

You don't have to wait until you have dementia though. Prevent the onset of neurodegenerative disorders with regular consumption of 200 ml of cherry juice now. It is also helpful in controlling blood pressure. Other interesting studies have shown that consumption of whole blueberries increases blood plasma concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF), a protein that supports neuron survival and the creation of new neuronal connections (synapses).

If you are interested in knowing how other foods improve brain function click here.

Source:

Kent K, Charlton K, Roodenrys S, Batterham M, Potter J, Traynor V, Gilbert H, Morgan O, Richards R. Consumption of anthocyanin-rich cherry juice for 12 weeks improves memory and cognition in older adults with mild-to-moderate dementia. European Journal of Nutrition. October 19, 2015. 

ENRICH YOUR LIFE WITH THIS NATURAL ENZYME COCKTAIL

If there’s one fruit worth eating daily for its amazing health benefits is pineapple. Packed with many different enzymes, it has long been used as a medicinal plant in countries such as Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, India and China. Bromelain is a pineapple's crude extract containing a mixture of active enzymes. In 1891 a Venezuelan chemist called Vicente Marcano isolated bromelain from pineapple fruit, and about 70 years later it was extracted from pineapple stem. The main sources of bromelain are pineapple fruit and stem; the latter needing to be processed since it’s a waste byproduct. Unlike most enzymes that become inactive during digestion, bromelain remains intact while absorbed in the gut - a characteristic that has been confirmed by several studies. From protecting the heart to relieving pain, bromelain has many benefits.

Effects on the heart
This enzymatic mixture offers protection against cardiovascular diseases by inhibiting platelet aggregation and the formation of blood clots. This helps in minimizing the severity of angina pectoris and the risk of stroke. It also breaks down cholesterol plaques (click here to read more about natural ways to reduce LDL cholesterol), which is one of the main factors leading to heart attack. 



Attenuates immune response

Pineapple extract helps to modulate allergic reactions and modifies white blood cell count, alleviating asthma and other hypersensitivity disorders such as sinusitis and bronchitis. In addition, bromelain is fantastic for autoimmune disorders and chronic inflammation including osteoarthritis, irritable bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis. It is a good alternative to NSAIDs due to its direct analgesic effect exerted through the inhibition of pain mediators such as bradykinin. A study carried out at the University of Reading, UK, found that administering 400 mg of bromelain reduced acute knee pain by 59%. 



Reduces osteoarthritis pain

If you are a bone pain sufferer already fed up with the side effects of NSAIDs such as gastrointestinal discomfort, you should definitely give bromelain a try. Some studies have found that bromelain is as effective as diclofenic for hip osteoarthritis and, in fact, better tolerated. Another study proved that 90 mg of bromelain three times a day had the same effect as 50 mg of diclofenac twice a day in reducing knee tenderness, pain, swelling, and in improving motion. 

Protection against pathogenic bacteria
Vibrio cholera and E. coli are two intestinal pathogens that provoke diarrhea. Bromelain has been found to protect intestinal walls against them by turning down secretory pathways related to water and electrolyte loss and by preventing bacteria from attaching to intestinal mucosa. This is why I recommend including bromelain supplement as part of your home medicine cabinet, which is ideal when children get sick. 

Bromelain prevents pathogens to stick to intestinal mucosa.
Photo credits: www.sciencenews.org

Promising therapy for cancer

Some researchers have evaluated the role of bromelain in preventing and fighting cancer. While studies are not yet conclusive, it has been shown to modify the microenvironment surrounding cancer cells as well as their internal gene machinery, promoting apoptosis (cell death) and changing the expression of relevant biomarkers such as NF-kB, Cox-2 and PGE2 that are associated to cancer progression and tumor angiogenesis - the formation of blood vessels feeding the tumor.

Degradation of fibrin is another suggested mechanism for the action of bromelain on cancer cells. Fibrin is sort of a gluey protein used by cancer cells to adhere to other tissues. Bromelain directly stimulates plasmin, which in turn degrades fibrin and ultimately helps in controlling metastasis and invasion. 


Recommended dose

The normal recommendation of bromelain supplements is 80 - 320 mg three times a day. Doses of 1,000 mg and up to 2,000 mg per day are considered safe. Finally, if you are allergic to pineapple you should not take bromelain, and consult a physician if you are taking warfarin.



Final note

Some studies use bromelain in combination with other enzymes. Papaya is a great source of natural enzymes with fantastic health benefits, however it deserves another blog post. If you want to know more about the benefits of bromelain read the article called Properties and Therapeutic Applications of Bromelain: A Review, published by Rajendra Pavan.

OLIVE'S COMPOUND SHOWS GREAT POTENTIAL TO DISRUPT HIV AND CANCER CELLS

When it comes to olive, its oil is perhaps the most important product and use of this great fruit. From protecting the heart to preventing several types of cancer, olive oil has a long list of scientifically proven benefits. The super star ingredient in the Mediterranean diet is a mix of fatty acids, mostly monounsaturated ones such as oleic acid, which has blood pressure-lowering effect and is associated with decreased LDL cholesterol commonly known as “bad cholesterol” (click here to read more about how to lower high cholesterol naturally). But have you wondered what other benefits do olives have?

Eight years ago, a team of researchers at the University of Granada discovered that maslinic acid – a compound present in the skin wax of olive fruits – blocks serin protease, an enzyme used by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to escape an infected cell to spread into other cells in the body. In fact, these scientists estimated olive-pomace oil can slow down the infection of other cells by 80%. Another research group at Hospital Carlos III in Madrid is investigating the use of this compound for AIDS.

Maslinic acid is a triterpene found in the
waxy coating of the fruit Orea Europaea L. 

Maslinic acid also stops colon cancer cells from dividing and promotes their death. It decreases the inflammatory response related to obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer by modulating the activity of the white blood cells known as macrophages (discover the relation between weight loss and inflammation). Moreover, it helps a protein called TNF-α in preventing growth of pancreatic cancer. Other effects include anti-diabetic, antioxidant, cardioprotective, neuroprotective and antiparasitic activities.

Please note that maslinic acid is present in olives skin and pulp and therefore its concentration increases as the quality of olive oil decreases, meaning extra virgin oil is not as rich in maslinic acid as crude olive-pomace oil. The best source of this compound is the solid residues from olive-oil production. However I strongly recommend you to include plenty of olive fruit in your diet! Olives go very well in salads; as snacks served with cheese, ham and bread; in sandwiches; or as the main ingredient in sauces. Get used to their strong taste and you’ll enrich your life with their amazing nutrients.

Click here to get the recipe for a nice olive sauce recipe