May 1999
Extract From Grape Seeds Proves a Powerful Antioxidant
Subscribers Only The seeds and skins of grapes are exceptionally rich in proanthocyanidins, members of the family of phytochemicals called flavonoids. Proanthocyanidins are particularly powerful antioxidants when they are bound together. In their bound form, they have come to be known as oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes, or OPC’s. A French biochemist patented a process for extracting these compounds from pine bark in 1951, then from grape seeds in 1970.
Produce for Strong Bones
Subscribers Only May is National Osteoporosis Month, a good time to evaluate what you’re doing to improve the health of your bones. That should include weight-bearing exercise, calcium and vitamin D. Now, a study suggests that eating fruits and vegetables might also be protective.
Why Much More Beta May Not Be Better
Subscribers Only It’s been several years since two large studies shocked the science world by suggesting that beta-carotene supplements actually promoted lung cancer in smokers. If you didn’t stop taking high-dose supplements then, new animal research may convince you to stop now.
Facing Facts About Farmed Fish vs. Fish From the Wild
Subscribers Only Q. Which kind of fish is better to eat, farm-raised fish or fish caught in oceans and rivers?
Long-Running Dietary Fat and Breast Cancer Debate Continues
Subscribers Only Q. I always thought cutting back on fat would help reduce my risk of breast cancer. Now I hear a new study says it won’t. Should I worry less now about my fat intake?
EN’s Guide to Calcium in Unexpected Places
Subscribers Only Don’t got milk? Worried you’re not getting the calcium you need for strong bones, to help lower blood pressure or to protect against colon cancer? Maybe you’re lactose intolerant or you simply don’t like the taste of milk or sardines. Perhaps you’re a vegetarian, but can’t seem to eat enough dark leafy greens. Most everyone has a hard time getting enough calcium from traditional sources. But these days, there are plenty of other places to find this much-needed mineral.
An Egg a Day Is OK, Say Researchers
Subscribers Only Despite popular belief, eggs-at least in moderation-are not likely to affect your risk of heart disease or stroke. That’s the conclusion of Harvard researchers, reporting in the April 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. This is the first study to look at egg consumption and disease, not simply cholesterol levels.
Yo-yo Dieting Danger?
Subscribers Only Scientists are speculating there’s yet another reason why repeated fluctuations in weight may do more harm than good. When weight is lost, body fat apparently releases stored toxins into the bloodstream, according to recent research. This could become significant with the repeated weight losses of yo-yo dieting, suggests Roy Walford, M.D., a researcher on aging at the University of California in Los Angeles. He presented his findings at a recent meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
MSM Gears Up to Be Next Aspirin: Can It Deliver?
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Broccoli and Cabbage Battle Bladder Cancer
Subscribers Only Cruciferous vegetables have once again been linked to cancer prevention, according to a new study that found a reduced risk of bladder cancer in men who were frequent consumers.
Y2K: A Good Excuse to Stock a Healthful Pantry
Subscribers Only There’s no escaping the panic mongers urging us to stock up on nonperishables in case the world’s computers crash next New Year’s Day because of the so-called Y2K problem. EN isn’t so sure January 1, 2000 spells doomsday, but keeping a healthful, well-stocked pantry is always a good idea.
Tea For Two-Green And Black Brew Offer Health Benefits, Say Experts
Subscribers Only How would you like your antioxidants? Peeled, sliced, shredded-or brewed? A current magazine ad from Lipton depicts tea on a par with fruits and vegetables. Could tea possibly be that good for you? Research suggests the answer may be yes, even though as the ad points out, tea is no substitute for fruits and vegetables.
Facing 50 And Beyond: How Best To Meet Changing Nutritional Needs
Subscribers Only The U.S. is a society of plenty, and the widespread symptoms of overindulgence-heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity,-are often blamed on "too much:" too much fat, too much salt, too many calories. For older adults, however, nutrient shortages are as much a concern as nutritional excesses, since the ability to fend off age-related ailments like heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer and cataracts is compromised by less-than-optimal nutrition.